India celebrates Ayushman Bharat Diwas annually on April 30th to commemorate Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s launch of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana or Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) in 2018. In the remote and underprivileged regions of the country, this day is significant for promoting and providing affordable medical care. There are numerous benefits associated with the scheme, including 5 lakh rupees of coverage per family per year. The Ayushman Bharat Diwas marks the beginning of this revolutionary health care plan.
About Ayushman Bharat Yojana
Government of India’s Ayushman Bharat scheme aims to provide universal health coverage to all citizens. This scheme was launched in 2018 and is also known as Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY). There are two main components of the program – the Health and Wellness Centers (HWCs) and the PM-JAY. HWCs aim to provide primary healthcare services, including preventive and promotional services, while PM-JAYs provide secondary and tertiary care to eligible beneficiaries with an annual health insurance cover of up to Rs. 5 lakh. It aims to protect vulnerable households against catastrophic health expenditures, which are one of the major causes of poverty in India. There is no doubt that the Ayushman Bharat scheme is a game changer in the healthcare sector, as it will significantly improve access to quality healthcare services and reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses for the poor and vulnerable.
Ayushman Bharat Diwas: History
In 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Ayushman Bharat Yojna to provide healthcare benefits to all Indians who cannot afford proper medical facilities. One of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations – “leave no one behind” – was met through the flagship scheme of the Narendra Modi government.
Ayushman Bharat Yojana: Key Feature
- The PM-JAY enables beneficiaries to pay for health care services cashlessly at the point of service, which is at the hospital or healthcare center.
- The Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana is the largest government-sponsored health insurance scheme in the world.
- The scheme covers secondary and tertiary care hospitalization for poor people for a maximum of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year.
- Approximately 10.74 crore families qualify for these benefits under this program.
- Nearly 6 crore Indians fall into poverty every year due to catastrophic medical expenditures.
- In India, it covers up to three days of pre-hospitalization expenses and 15 days of post-hospitalization expenses, such as diagnostics and medicines.
Read More: Important Days and Dates in April 2023
Ayushman Bharat Diwas: FAQs
Ayushman Bharat Diwas celebrates the achievements and impact of the Ayushman Bharat scheme, bringing awareness to the importance of accessible healthcare for all.
Individuals belonging to economically disadvantaged sections, rural populations, and identified occupational categories are eligible for Ayushman Bharat benefits.
Eligible individuals can visit an empaneled hospital and provide their Ayushman Bharat card or relevant identification to avail of cashless treatment.