New Delhi, Nov 1 (NationPress) Over 86.51 lakh elderly citizens aged 70 and above have received Ayushman Vay Vandana (VVS) cards within a year since its inception, offering essential healthcare services, as reported by the government on Saturday.

The Ayushman Vay Vandana Scheme, introduced in October 2024, delivers complimentary healthcare benefits amounting to up to Rs 5 lakh annually for all Indian citizens aged 70 and above, irrespective of their income or social classification.

This initiative expands upon the flagship health insurance program Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), which provides up to Rs 5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to economically disadvantaged groups.

AB-PMJAY is a vital component of the broader Ayushman Bharat initiative launched in 2018, aimed at ensuring equitable health coverage, particularly for rural and economically disadvantaged sectors. This initiative makes quality healthcare accessible for over 12 crore vulnerable families.

According to an official statement from the government, “As of October 28, over 42 crore Ayushman cards have been distributed for AB-PMJAY beneficiaries, with more than 86 lakh senior citizens enrolled in the scheme.”

The other key elements of the Ayushman Bharat program include: Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs (AAM), Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), and PM-ABHIM.

AAM guarantees that primary healthcare is conveniently accessible to individuals near their homes or via a phone call, while ABDM digitally connects all health facilities—from local clinics to major hospitals—aiming to establish an integrated digital health infrastructure across the country.

This initiative will link various stakeholders within the healthcare ecosystem through digital platforms. Conversely, PM-ABHIM is focused on enhancing India's public health infrastructure and pandemic response capabilities.

The government stated, “Collectively, these initiatives under Ayushman Bharat and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare deliver affordable, high-quality, and comprehensive healthcare, ensuring universal health coverage for everyone.”

“Universal health coverage is about guaranteeing that every individual, including the most vulnerable families, has access to affordable, quality healthcare, enabling them to lead healthy and fulfilling lives,” they added.