The government plans to enrol over 50 crore people and empanel more hospitals under the scheme. The scheme provides a cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year
Health Minister Mr Mansukh Mandaviya launched three key initiatives under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), while lauding its achievements He also launched Aarogya Dhara 2.0 to accelerate the pace of inclusion to add more families under the scheme.
The initiatives that were launched are
Adhikar Patra: to be issued to the beneficiaries during their hospital admissions for treatment under PM-JAY scheme to make them aware of their rights so that they can claim free and cashless healthcare services up to Rs 5 lakhs under the scheme.
Abhinandan Patra: a ‘thank you note’ to be issued to the beneficiaries during their discharge after the treatment under PM-JAY for availing the benefits of AB PM-JAY scheme. The Abhinandan Patra is also accompanied by a feedback form to be filled in by the beneficiary regarding the service they received under the scheme.
Ayushman Mitra: Another key initiative launched which provides an opportunity to all citizens to contribute to the vision of Ayushman Bharat by helping eligible people to get their Ayushman Cards created and bring them under the ambit of the scheme.
He was chairing a meet to mark the completion of two crore treatments under the AB-PMJAY.
The scheme which was launched on September 23rd, 2018 has so far covered 33 states/UTs, and treatments worth approximately Rs 25,000 crores have been provided to date through a network of 23,000 public and private empanelled hospitals.
The scheme targets to cover 107 million families and more than 30 million beneficiaries have been identified since January 2021.
Expressing his happiness at the achievement and congratulating every employee who has made the feat possible, the Union Health Minister said, “Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY is an ambitious scheme ensuring quality and affordable healthcare for the poor and underprivileged people. The scheme has empowered all eligible beneficiaries with cashless and paperless healthcare services benefits of up to Rs 5 Lakhs per family per year. Thus, many disadvantaged sections can afford treatment without turning to moneylenders.”
Shri Mandaviya also virtually inaugurated Arogya Dhara 2.0 to increase the reach of AB PM JAY programme to the poorest of the poor households in the country and to make the beneficiaries aware of the scheme.
Dr RS Sharma, CEO, National Health Authority, lauded the NHA’s robust IT platforms for enabling a simpler, fast, cashless, transparent and paperless entire claim process for beneficiaries to seek financial aid Rs 5 lakh in a time-bound manner anywhere in the country and hoped to soon achieve the government’s target of verifying and enrolling over 50 crore beneficiaries under the scheme.
Shri Rajesh Bhushan, Union Health Secretary noted that the scheme has revolutionised hospital care in the three years of its existence.
Dr Praveen Gedam, Additional CEO, NHA and Dr Vipul Aggarwal, Deputy CEO, NHA and other senior officials were present at the event.