Over 25 Lakh Seniors Above 70 Register for Ayushman Cards Within Two Months: Government
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New Delhi, Dec 9 (NationPress) Approximately 25 lakh senior citizens aged 70 and above have successfully registered for the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card in less than two months following its launch, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday.
This initiative is part of the Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), which was expanded by the Union government on October 29. The scheme aims to offer free treatment benefits amounting to up to 5 lakh per year on a family basis for all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, regardless of their socio-economic background.
Since the introduction of the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card, treatments valued at over Rs 40 crore have been utilized, benefiting more than 22,000 senior citizens aged 70 and above, as stated by the Ministry.
These senior citizens have received treatment for a variety of medical conditions, including coronary angioplasty, hip fracture/replacement, gall bladder removal, cataract surgery, prostate resection, stroke, hemodialysis, enteric fever, and other febrile illnesses.
The card covers treatment for approximately 2,000 medical procedures across 27 medical specialties, which include general medicine and general surgery. It ensures coverage for all pre-existing diseases, encompassing issues relating to bones, heart, and cancer, from the very first day without any waiting period. An estimated 4.5 crore families and 6 crore individuals aged 70 years and above stand to benefit from this scheme.
The projected expenditure for this initiative is Rs 3,437 crore. Of this, Rs 2,165 crore in central share expenditure is anticipated to be incurred during the Financial Year 2024-25 and 2025-26, according to the Ministry. A total of 29,870 hospitals are empanelled under the scheme, out of which 13,173 are private hospitals.
Seniors aged 70 or above who qualify for the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card can register through various methods. They may visit the nearest empanelled hospital for registration or self-register by downloading the Ayushman app.
