Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the expanded Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) to cover everyone aged 70 and above on Tuesday, saying he had fulfilled his “guarantee” on the occasion of Dhanvantri Jayanti. As Delhi and West Bengal remain without a health care system, the prime minister apologized to the elderly people in these two states for not being able to help them.
He said, “I apologize to the people of Delhi and West Bengal for more than 70 years that I will not be able to serve you. I am sorry because I will know that you are suffering – I will get the information – but I will not be able to help you. The reason is that the Delhi and West Bengal governments are not involved in the Ayushman Bharat scheme… I have been prevented from serving the elderly people of Delhi and West Bengal because of politics – Delhi I am speaking from… I am sad.”
Delhi and West Bengal are ruled by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC), respectively. Odisha, the third state not to join the scheme, is now in talks with the Center to implement it.
As a symbolic act of extended initiation Ayushman Bharat insurance schemePM distributed ‘Ayushman Vyay Card’ to four beneficiaries. This card will be given to all beneficiaries over the age of 70, including those who have already registered in the program according to their economic status.
Persons aged 70 years or above will be entitled to an income of up to Rs 5 lakh per annum, irrespective of their income status. This contribution of Rs 5 lakh will be shared among all the elderly members of the family. For example, if there are two elderly beneficiaries in the household, coverage will be split between them. Members aged 70 years and above in families who are already covered based on their economic status will get an additional cover of Rs 5 lakh, which caters to elderly care only. The program will involve around 6 crore people from 4.5 crore families. Of them, 1.78 crore are already covered by the scheme.
PM Modi said that the scheme, which serves 40 percent of the country’s poor so far, has benefited 4 crore people. He saved 1.25 crore in out-of-pocket expenses, he said. He said the government has prioritized providing health services free of charge or at affordable cost to the poor and middle class. The Jan Aushadhi Kendra, which provides medicines at discounts of up to 80 percent, has already saved Rs 30,000 crore to the people, Modi said.
The Prime Minister said that lowering the prices of stents and knee replacements has saved Rs 80,000 crore, while free dialysis has saved lakhs of rupees for thousands of people.
At the Dhanvantri Jayanti event at the All India Institute of Ayurveda, PM Modi also spoke about the growing global attraction to Ayurveda and India’s growing role in medical tourism and wellness.
He said the market value can be increased repeatedly by gathering evidence. He also said that people have already seen the results, but now there is a need to produce evidence to support them, adding that the All India Institute of Ayurveda is playing an important role in this.
He also inaugurated several projects, including new nursing colleges and new centers in several medical colleges.