PM Modi announces 'Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Abhiyaan' on I-Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the occasion of Independence Day, announced the launch of 'Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Abhiyaan' on September 25. The scheme is the flagship project of Ayushman Bharat, the national healthcare policy launched by the Government earlier this year.

"Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Abhiyaan will be launched on September 25 this year. It is high time we ensure that the poor of India get proper access to good quality and affordable healthcare," he said from the ramparts of Red Fort.

PM Modi further said that poverty is the reason why people cannot afford healthcare.

"The healthcare initiatives of the government will have a positive impact on the 50 crore Indians. It is important to ensure that we free the poor of India from poverty, due to which they cannot afford healthcare," he said while delivering the fifth and last Independence Day speech of his current term as the Prime Minister.

Ayushman Bharat, also refered to as 'Modicare', was launched by the Government of India in February this year. The ambitious healthcare policy promises to cover over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families, based on SECC (Socio-Economic Caste Census) database, providing coverage up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation.

Benefits of the scheme are portable across the country and the beneficiaries will be allowed to take cashless benefits from any public/private empanelled hospitals across the country.