Ayushman Health Cards: Door-to-door mission to cover all BPL people

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The State Health department has taken up a step to accelerate the process for inclusion of all the targeted beneficiaries under the 'AB-PMJAY' (Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana). In this regard, personnel of the department will proceed door-to-door. After registering the names of beneficiaries not included in the list, the personnel will also provide the 'Ayushman Health Cards' to them on the spot free of cost.

Addressing the media at the NHM (National Health Mission) office at Christian Basti here on Saturday, State Health Minister Keshab Mahanta said, "To make the scheme more reachable for the beneficiaries and to increase the usage of the 'Ayushman Health Cards', an initiative christened as 'Apa ke Dwar Ayushman' will commence from October. Under this initiative, verification and validation of the 'Ayushman' cards for the eligible beneficiaries at 'near-to-home' locations is going to be facilitated by authorised agencies free of cost."

The Health Minister added, "The 'AB-PMJAY' was launched by the Union government on September 21, 2018. Under this scheme, comprehensive coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care treatment.

"According to the socio-economic Census-2011, a total of 27 lakh poor and vulnerable families or approximately 1.35 crore individuals should get this benefit. However, it has been noticed that a large section of this targeted population is yet to be covered under this Central government's health mission.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also intimated to us that steps must be accelerated for coverage of all these people. Following the direction of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, we have initiated this move."

Official data indicate that a total of 335 empanelled hospitals — both public and private — have been already included under this scheme. During the last three years, altogether 1,77,118 beneficiaries have availed of cashless treatment under AB-PMJAY. Against this public health service, the empanelled hospitals have also been paid approximately Rs 155 crore by the government.

Mahanta added, "On the completion of three years of AB-PMJAY, the State government is carrying out several programmes."

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