GUWAHATI, Oct 6 - State Education and Guwahati Development Department Minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya ceremonially distributed Ayushman Bharat cards among the beneficiaries at the East Guwahati State Dispensary, Chandmari here today.
The Ayushman Bharat programme aims to make healthcare accessible and affordable, by providing coverage of Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 crore to the economically backward families. Nearly 31 States and Union Territories are implementing the programme to enable 50 crore Indians to reap the benefits of the scheme.
The ambitious scheme named the 'Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Abhiyan' targets economically backward families from both rural and urban India. Eligible people can avail the benefits in government and listed private hospitals. The beneficiaries are identified based on four "deprivation categories".
There is no cap on family size and age in the scheme, ensuring that nobody is left out. In case of hospitalisation, members of the beneficiary families do not need to pay anything under the scheme provided one goes to a government or an empanelled private hospital.
Speaking on the occasion, Bhattacharya said this scheme will bring quality healthcare within the reach of the poor and the underprivileged section of the society. He also stressed the need to create awareness among the masses about this scheme.
Joint Director of Health Services, Kamrup Metro Dr Ganesh Saikia, Sub Divisional Medical and Health Officer Dr Santimoyee Sarma and noted social worker Utpal Das were also present on the occasion.
