In a major expansion of the Union government’s flagship scheme, the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (October 29, 2024) announced that health coverage under the scheme will now be available to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, regardless of their income.
The PM slammed the governments of Delhi and West Bengal for not implementing the scheme, expressing his concern that senior citizens in these States cannot avail free treatment under the expanded programme.
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“I apologise to all the elderly aged 70 and above in Delhi and West Bengal that I cannot serve them. I know about your pains and sufferings, but I won’t be able to help you,” PM said. “The reason is that the governments in Delhi and West Bengal are not joining the scheme due to their political interests,” he added.
Reducing health costs
The scheme was introduced to “overcome the despair of the poor when illness strikes, the PM said, noting that the government bears the cost of hospitalisation for scheme beneficiaries up to ₹5 lakh.
“With the expansion now every elderly person above 70 years of age in the country will get free treatment in the hospital with the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card. With an Ayushman Vaya Vandana card for the elderly in the house, the out-of-pocket expenditure will be reduced to a great extent,’’ said the PM.
Ayurveda growth
The PM also launched other health sector projects worth around ₹12,850 crore on the occasion of Dhanvantari Jayanti and the ninth Ayurveda Day, at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in New Delhi. Ayurveda Diwas is being celebrated in more than 150 countries today, Mr. Modi said, offering this as proof of the growing attraction of Ayurveda.
Stating that the progress of a nation is directly proportional to the health of its citizens, Mr. Modi listed the five pillars of his government’s policy: preventive healthcare, early detection of ailments, free and low-cost treatment and medicines, availability of doctors in small towns, and the expansion of technology in health services.
The Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for projects worth more than ₹13,000 crore, incuding the creation of four centres of excellence under the Ayush Health scheme, expansion of health services with the use of drones, helicopter services at AIIMS, Rishikesh, new infrastructure at AIIMS, New Delhi and AIIMS, Bilaspur, expansion of services in five other AIIMS in the country, establishment of medical colleges, the launch of nursing colleges, and other projects related to the health sector.
Mr. Modi said that the government is leveraging technology to enhance healthcare and save citizens’ money under the e-Sanjeevani scheme, through which over 30 crore people have consulted doctors online.
Validating traditional herbs
There are 7.5 lakh registered AYUSH practitioners already contributing to the nation’s healthcare, the PM said. Speaking about the importance of validating traditional herbs like Ashwagandha, turmeric, and black pepper through high-impact scientific studies, he said that lab validation of our traditional healthcare systems will not only increase the value of these herbs but also create a significant market for them.
Mr. Modi inaugurated the second phase of India’s first All India Institute of Ayurveda, and three medical colleges at Mandsaur, Neemuch and Seoni in Madhya Pradesh, and laid the foundation stones for five nursing colleges, and 21 Critical Care Blocks.
In a major boost to Make in India initiatives in the healthcare sector, the Prime Minister inaugurated five projects under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for medical devices and bulk drugs at Vapi in Gujarat, Hyderabad in Telangana, Bengaluru in Karnataka, Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh and Nalagarh in Himachal Pradesh. These units will manufacture high-end medical devices, such as body implants and critical care equipment, along with important bulk drugs.
Published - October 29, 2024 02:16 pm IST