PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
Health minister Dhan Singh Rawat has said that more than 17 lakh patients have so far been treated free of cost under the Ayushman Yojana in Uttarakhand. He said that the government has so far spent Rs 3,300 crore on treatment of patients under the Ayushman Yojana.
He said the State government is committed to provide better health facilities to the people. The minister said that due to easy accessibility of the health schemes of the government, more and more people are availing their benefits. Giving details of the Ayushman beneficiaries, the minister said that 57,862 people have availed its benefit in Almora, 25,133 in Bageshwar, 66,005 in Chamoli, 33,274 in Champawat, 4,18,295 in Dehradun, 3,21,509 in Haridwar and 1,59,242 in Nainital district. Similarly, 1,30,701 patients in Pauri, 39,989 in Rudraprayag, 58,786 in Pithoragarh, 99,191 in Tehri, 2,81,995 in Udham Singh Nagar and 55,882 in Uttarkashi district have availed the benefit of Ayushman Yojana.
Rawat said that for the State government employees and pensioners the State Government Health Scheme (SGHS) is operational in the State. Under the scheme, more than four lakh employees and pensioners have so far availed the benefit of cashless treatment. Under the SGHS, 1.73 lakh people have availed cashless treatment benefit in the IPDs and 2.31 lakh in OPDs of the hospitals. Rawat said that a sum of Rs 641 crore has so far been spent on the SGHS.
A total of 57 lakh cards under the Ayushman and five lakh cards under SGHS schemes have so far been made in the State. The minister added that under the Vaya Vandan Yohana (VVY) health cards of more than 25,000 people have so far been prepared. Under the scheme free treatment is provided to people above 70 years of age. Under the VVY, a total of 11,000 patients have so far availed benefit while a sum of Rs 30 crore has been spent on the scheme.
