Senior Citizens to Receive Free Treatment Under Ayushman Bharat: President Murmu Unveils New Benefits

President Droupadi Murmu announced that all citizens aged above 70 will receive free treatment under the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme. Additionally, the government is rapidly expanding Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country and aims to provide health coverage to 55 crore beneficiaries under AB-PMJAY.

President Droupadi Murmu announced on Thursday that all citizens aged above 70 years will now receive free treatment under the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme. Addressing the joint sitting of Parliament, she highlighted the swift progress in establishing 25,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the nation.

Murmu emphasized that the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is already providing free health services to 55 crore beneficiaries. 'Further, the Government is going to take yet another decision in this area. Now all the elderly above 70 years of age will also be covered and get the benefit of free treatment under Ayushman Bharat Yojana,' she stated.

The President pointed out that India is emerging as a leader across various sectors, including IT, Tourism, Health, and Wellness. The AB-PMJAY, she noted, remains the largest publicly funded health insurance scheme in the world, offering Rs 5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to 12 crore families. The Hospital Empanelment and Management (HEM) guidelines task State Health Agencies (SHAs) with the duty of empaneling hospitals under the scheme.