6.85 lakh patient benefits from Aayushman Bharat scheme in first 100 days: Finance Minister

FM says scheme is a game changer in healthcare

The finance minister Arun Jaitley in a Facebook post titled '100 days of Ayushman Bharat' has said that 6.85 lakh patients have been provided free hospital treatment in its first 100 days after launch on 23 September 2018. About 5.1 lakh claims have availed of the scheme, for which payment has been released. This averages 5000 claims per day for the first 100 days. No patient have had to pay a single Rupee. Thus, once awareness of the scheme increases, It is anticipated that in the next few years, almost 1 crore plus families will benefit each year.

The total number of hospitals covered by this scheme are both Government hospitals and private hospitals presently numbering 16,000 and increasing steadily. More than 50% of the implementing hospitals are in the private sector. Thus, a patient can enroll himself in empanelled hospital and get himself hospitalised upto charges of Rs 5 lakh in a totally cashless and paperless manner.

This scheme is a game changer in healthcare. Many people from the weaker sections avoided hospital treatment in order to avoid the burden of an unbearable payment. Today 40% of India's poorest are assured of a treatment in a hospital at the cost of public expenditure. This scheme also supports the hospitals as an institution by ensuring patients for them. This will lead to more hospitals (especially in Tier II and III cities), and those with better equipment. Health sector jobs are set to increase. PMJAY will help create an accountable health system because beneficiary feedback is an integral part of its implementation.

From infrastructure creation, to rural roads, to building houses for the poor, providing them with electricity, toilets, gas connection and now healthcare has only been possible after initiatives taken by the Prime Minister and the Government have resulted in a higher tax base and greater revenue collection.

This scheme covers 10.74 crore poor families, i.e., over 50 crore people. 40% of India's population is covered by this scheme. These weaker sections can avail of a medical scheme which covers hospitalisation charges spread over 1350 hospitalisation packages for a sum of Rs 5 lakh per year for the whole family. Thus, if any member of the family requires to be hospitalised, his charges upto Rs 5 lakh will be picked up by the financial management under Aayushman Bharat. The scheme is paperless and cashless.

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