NEW DELHI : Over one crore treatments worth Rs 13,412 crore were provided under Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme since its launch in September 2018, even as hospitalization was heavily impacted during April and May due to the nationwide lockdown amid Covid-19 outbreak.
The landmark saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeting his interaction with Pooja Thapa from Meghalaya, who was the beneficiary number 1 crore. He also thanked medical personnel and hospitals who have been a part of the state run insurance scheme that aims at supporting the poor.
The scheme – which has a significant acceptance in the private sector – has made strides in providing testing and treatment to Covid patients. In a month-and-a-half since Covid-19 treatment was made free under the scheme, over 2,000 people have been attended to, whereas more than 3,000 have been tested for the infectious disease.
Out of the total 1 crore treatments, 54% have been provided by private hospitals. With its portability factor, the Ayushman Bharat scheme is seen as a major tool to make healthcare accessible in remote areas, at a time when the government is trying to manage a rise in Covid infections due to movement of migrant workers.
"This milestone of one crore treatments include more than 1 lakh treatments through portability. This feature provides the opportunity to serve migrant population and those living in under-served areas. We intend to sensitise the returning migrants about their eligibility outside their home states," Ayushman Bharat chief executive Indu Bhushan said.
The scheme aims to provide free annual health insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh to over 10.74 crore deprived families. Around 21,565 public and private hospitals are partners under the scheme. States like Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, and Rajasthan have emerged as the top performing states providing highest numbeRead More – Source
