'Modicare': India's biggest Healthcare scheme Ayushman Bharat launched; What to expect

India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, has launched what can be termed as world’s biggest health insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat, promising free coverage for half a billion of poor citizens in India ahead of national elections in May 2019.

On September 23 Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally inaugurate the ambitious Ayushman Bharat -Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)’. The scheme firstly rolled out from Ranchi in Jharkhand.

The mega launch event was attended by Union health minister JP Nadda, Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das and the state governor Draupadi Murmu.

The downtrodden 40% of India’s 1.25 billion people will be covered under the flagship program, named “Modicare”, was first unveiled in the federal budget earlier this year.

Punam Mahato has turned out to be the first beneficiary of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) in Jharkhand after giving birth to a baby girl at a hospital in Jamshedpur. This happens minutes after PM Narendra Modi rolled out the scheme in Ranchi.

The baby was delivered at 1.10 pm by caesarian section on Sunday at the Sadar Hospital in East Singbhum district.

The PMJAY, projected to be the World's largest government-funded healthcare scheme, aims to provide a coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family annually, to more than 10.74 crore poor families across the country.

In the scheme the Centre will contribute 60 percent to the Ayushman Bharat scheme, whereas the states will contribute the remaining 40 percent.

PM Narendra Modi during the launch of the event described the scheme as a “game changer initiative to serve the poor.” He besides said that the helpline number for Ayushman Bharat- 14555- should be memorized by everyone.

Modi distributed medical cards out at the launch in Ranchi, capital of Jharkhand, calling it a historic day for India.

Modi wrote on Twitter, “We want to strengthen the hands of the poor and stand shoulder to shoulder with them in pursuit of good health,”

The scheme will approximately cost the central and 29 state governments $1.6bn per year. Funding will be increased gradually in accordance with the demand.

As stated by reports the 71st round of National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) disclosed that over 85% of rural families and 82% of urban households have no access to healthcare insurance. The Ayyshman Bharat scheme in this juncture aims to offer health assurance to 10 crores (approximately 50 crore Indians) economically deprived families

hailed from both rural and urban India.

All total 1354 packages have been inducted in the scheme by the health ministry under which essential treatment and surgeries like a stenting, coronary bypass, and knee replacements among others will be provided at 15% to 20% cheaper rates than provided under other Central Government Health Schemes as reported The Times Of India. Besides, a beneficiary can avail the services at the point of service in a paperless and cashless manner.