A month after the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna or Ayushman Bharat Yojna was launched, in a bid to provide comprehensive health care to the vulnerable groups, the first angioplasty under the scheme was performed in the national Capital on Monday. The scheme launched in September is the world's largest healthcare scheme, which will reduce the financial burden of millions of families suffering from illnesses.

In his tweet on October 29, President Ram Nath Kovind has shared that within a month of its launch, more than one lakh patients have received medical facilities under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.

On Monday, Dr Tarun Kumar, Associate Professor, Cardiology, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, shared that the first Angioplasty under the scheme had been performed at the hospital on Saturday on a 42-year-old man, Bhavishye. The patient, a resident of Rohtak in Haryana, had a minor heart attack last Thursday and was brought to the hospital. On check-up, it was revealed that one of his arteries was 99 per cent blocked and the other was 80 per cent blocked. "There was no other option but to perform an Angioplasty and put stents to clear the blockage. We performed this on Saturday and the patient is better since he will be discharged on Tuesday," said Dr Kumar.

Ayushman Bharat will be paying up to Rs five lakh in hospitalisation costs to poor and vulnerable families but also cover drugs and diagnostic expenses. As per the scheme guidelines released on August 31, 2018, approximately 10.74 crore identified families ( approximately 50 crore beneficiaries) will be entitled to get the benefits.

"We have a separate counter and five helpers for the patients coming in under the scheme. This makes things run smoothly," said Dr VK Tiwari, Medical Superintendent, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.