Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda | Photo Credit: ANI

New Delhi: Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, JP Nadda, on Sunday informed that one lakh people were benefitted under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana - Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY-AB), the world's largest health care programme that was launched last month. Talking to ANI, Nadda said, "On August 15, the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) had announced PMJAY, a very ambitious programme that would cover 10.74 crore families, which amounts to 55 crore beneficiaries to get the benefit of annual health coverage of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year. After launching the programme by the Prime Minister in Ranchi on September 23, we are now completing one month. I am happy to say that one lakh beneficiaries have availed this scheme."

The Union Minister requested all stakeholders to cooperate and make the healthcare scheme successful. He also lauded the Ministry of Health and Welfare and national agencies for implementing the programme without any hiccups.

"32 states and Union Territories have joined Ayushman Bharat and we have given benefits in all the regions and to the marginalised sections of the society. We need your cooperation and stakeholders cooperation to make the programme successful. It is entirely paperless and cashless. The programme has now stabilised. We are trying to implement the Prime Minister's wish so that we can reach the last person who needs this benefit and we are able to give it," Nadda elucidated.

The Ayushman Bharat scheme provides a yearly medical cover of Rs 5 lakh per family to around 10 crore families below the poverty line. It was announced by Prime Minister Modi during his Independence Day speech in August.

The healthcare programme will provide cashless and paperless access to services for the beneficiary at the point of service. It will help reduce catastrophic expenditure for hospitalisation, which impoverishes people and will help mitigate the financial risk arising out of catastrophic health episodes. Entitled families will be able to use the quality health services they need without facing financial hardships.