Port Blair, Sept. 23: The Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) was launched in the country today by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi from Ranchi, Jharkhand. In line with this, at a state level function held in the auditorium of GB Pant Hospital here, the Lt. Governor, A&N Islands, Admiral DK Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd) launched the ‘Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana’ (AB-PMJAY) in these Islands too. The Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Shri Chetan B. Sanghi, Chairperson PBMC, (designate), Smt. Anusia Devi, the Secretary, Health/CEO, Ayushman Bharat, Ms Monika Priyadarshini, Officers of the Administration, eminent citizens, doctors and staff of GB Pant Hospital and beneficiaries were present on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, the Lt. Governor expressed his happiness to be part of this historic health care scheme that has been launched by the Prime Minister in the country today. “This mega health scheme is a historic one for India, as it is a comprehensive health assurance scheme with broad contours”, he said.
The Lt Governor described the ‘Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana’ as a bold and ambitious health scheme in the world. This ambitious scheme aims to provide coverage of Rs five lakh per family annually, benefitting more than 10 crore poor families in the country. Turning to the Islands, the Lt Governor said, “in our Islands 21,000 families have been identified who will be benefitted from ‘Ayushman Bharat’ health care scheme. About 22 percent beneficiaries are from town area while the rest are from rural areas, which reflects that this scheme will benefit the rural people the most in these Islands”, the Lt. Governor said, adding that the support from every stakeholder is needed to fully implement the beneficial health care scheme in the Isles.
Referring that health care facilities and health coverage is better in these Islands, the Lt Governor said, the Administration will leave no stone unturned for 100 percent successful coverage of the ‘Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana’ in these Islands.
The Lt Governor also handed over golden cards to some of the beneficiaries on the occasion marking the launch of the scheme in these Islands.
Speaking as the guest of honour in the function, the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Shri Chetan B. Sanghi described the ‘Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana’ (AB-PMJAY) as a comprehensive health care scheme, under which, the beneficiaries can avail medical treatment in the empanelled hospitals anywhere in the Country. The Chief Secretary said that another benefit of this scheme is that the beneficiary will get Rs 5 lakh every year for treatment. This health scheme is a blessing for the poor people, he added.
The Chief Secretary lauded the entire team associated with the implementation of this scheme in totality in A&N Islands, by timely identifying the beneficiaries and ensuring its launch together with the rest of the Country today. The Chief Secretary also directed the Health Secretary to ensure that services of the Doctors are available in remote areas of these Islands. He further urged that while posting doctors in remote areas, it should be ensured that they are provided with all required facilities.
Live broadcast of national launch by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi from Ranchi was also shown on the occasion.
In her welcome address, the CEO, Ayushman Bharat, Ms Monika Priyadarshini, through a power point presentation informed that the objectives of the Yojana is to reduce out of pocket hospitalization expenses, fulfill unmet needs and improve access of identified families to quality inpatient care and day care surgeries. The Yojana will provide a coverage of up to Rs. 5,00,000/- per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization through a network of Empanelled Health Care Providers (EHCP), She added.
‘Ayushman Bharat’ encapsulates a progression towards promotive, preventive, curative, palliative and rehabilitative aspects of Universal Healthcare through access of Health and Wellness Centers (HWCs) at the primary level and provisioning of financial protection for accessing curative care at the secondary and tertiary levels through engagement with both public and private sector through Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
The EHCP network will provide completely cashless and paperless access to services for beneficiaries at both public and private hospitals. The services will include 1350 procedures covering pre and post hospitalization, diagnostics, medicines etc.
The function concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by the Director Health Services, Dr. SP Burma.