VISAKHAPATNAM: After a month since the launch of Ayushman Bharat Yojana, National Health Protection Scheme, only one lakh people have benefitted out of it.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set an ambitious target of reaching out to more than 50 crore persons, across the country, with this scheme.
The BJP-led government has planned to educate poor families about the benefits of the scheme. An awareness programme was conducted here on Friday for making the people realise about the benefits of the recently introduced healthcare scheme.
Around 50 young persons from different villages in the district attended the programme. Each person who attends the awareness programme is likely to educate at least 10 people about the scheme.
The Centre will provide a monthly remuneration of Rs 5,000 to each individual. On the occasion, King George Hospital superintendent G. Arjuna said that all Below Poverty Line (BPL) families should make use of the world’s largest healthcare programme. “Instead of going to the hospital for treatment, they should go to wellness centres to identify diseases. Around 10 crore BPL families are eligible to get Ayushman Bharat health cards free of cost. However, others can also avail health coverage up to '5 lakh per family a year at an annual payment of Rs 1,324,” he said.
BJP medical cell district convener R. Ravi Kumar spoke said that World Health Organisation (WHO) insists for universal health coverage to everyone. “This scheme allows poor people to visit hospitals regularly, without any financial burden. They can make use of their earnings for other benefits. The Union government plans to spend around Rs 12,000 crores a year for the premium payments,” he said.
