The Bharatiya government is on a mission to expand the reach of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) by including an additional 270 million people by January 26. This ambitious plan involves accelerating efforts to enroll individuals below the poverty line, providing them with access to quality healthcare through the Ayushman card.
New Guidelines Push Ministries to Achieve “Saturation” of Beneficiaries
Central ministries and agencies overseeing welfare schemes have received updated guidelines urging them to speed up the process of achieving “saturation” among targeted beneficiaries. With over 280 million people already holding Ayushman cards, the government aims to cover a total of 550 million individuals, leaving a sizable gap to be bridged within just over a month.
Daily Targets Set to Achieve Rapid Ayushman Card Creation
To meet the challenging deadline, states and Union Territories (UTs) have been instructed to set daily targets for Ayushman card creation. Resources are being mobilized, and constant communication is maintained to ensure effective implementation. The focus is on treating this as an opportunity to achieve saturation rather than a mere pre-election agenda.
Ayushman Cards Gain Popularity, Resulting in Increased Hospitalization Rates
The widespread use of Ayushman cards has led to a notable rise in hospitalization rates, approaching 3.16 percent per 100,000 beneficiaries in the current fiscal year. This surpasses the national average of 2.9 percent, indicating the scheme’s impact on healthcare utilization. Uttar Pradesh leads with 46 million Ayushman cards, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra.
Ayushman Bharat Scheme Saves Rs 1 Trillion in Treatment Costs Over Five Years
In a significant achievement, the Ayushman Bharat scheme has reportedly saved at least Rs 1 trillion in treatment costs since its inception in 2018. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare highlights that over Rs 5.7 crore worth of cashless treatments have been provided, with 254 million beneficiary cards generated under AB-PMJAY. The scheme offers health coverage of Rs 500,000 per beneficiary family per annum, benefiting 600 million individuals identified based on specific criteria.
AB-PMJAY: World’s Largest Public Health Protection Scheme Shows Remarkable Results
Launched as the world’s largest public health protection scheme, AB-PMJAY aims to provide financial risk protection against catastrophic health expenditures. Implemented in various modes as decided by states, the scheme has proven successful, achieving significant savings while offering crucial healthcare support to millions of beneficiaries.
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