PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) marked its seventh anniversary on Monday, having provided coverage for 5.97 lakh families in the State. This initiative was inaugurated on September 23, 2018, by India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. The programme allows each family to receive free healthcare treatment up to Rs 5 lakh annually.
Following the success of Ayushman Bharat, the Uttarakhand government expanded the programme by introducing the Atal Ayushman Yojana (AAY) for the general public and the State government health scheme for government and private sector employees and pensioners.
Notably, AAY and the State government health scheme since their inception, more than 6.1 million Ayushman cards have been issued in the state.
This free treatment service has cost approximately Rs 3,300 crore over the past seven years. Currently, a total of 396 hospitals are listed under the Ayushman Yojana in the State, including 201 government and 195 private hospitals. Over 31,000 hospitals in provinces outside the State are listed under the Ayushman Yojana.
In response to this, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the Ayushman Yojana is a significant advantage for those in poverty and need. In the past, many who were poor could not afford medical care because of high costs. However, now with an Ayushman card, they have the opportunity to receive free treatment at any major government or private hospital without any cost.
Health minister Dhan Singh Rawat emphasised that every effort is made to ensure that the Ayushman scheme aligns with public expectations, that eligible beneficiaries receive adequate care and that hospital claims for medical services are processed transparently. Service providers are given guidance to prevent any lapses in service quality and strict measures are enforced against hospitals that submit fraudulent claims, he said.
Further, chairman of the State Health Authority (SHA) Arvind Singh Hyanki stated, “The SHA is responsible for overseeing PMJAY, the AAY and the State government health scheme. The Ayushman scheme, benefiting the general public, is progressing in accordance with the government’s intentions and guidelines. Hospitals are periodically instructed to ensure beneficiaries receive better treatment.”
