Guwahati, 11th February: Assam Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, announced on February 11 a significant milestone for the state, becoming the first to distribute over 1 crore Ayushman Cards to its citizens. This achievement, shared via the microblogging site X, underscores Assam’s commitment to realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Universal Health Coverage.
In his message, Chief Minister Sarma extended gratitude to the citizens for their active participation in this initiative. He reiterated the state’s dedication to fulfilling the objectives of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, aimed at easing the financial burden on the underprivileged.
The Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana offers coverage of up to Rs 5 lakhs per eligible family annually for secondary and tertiary care, ensuring cashless treatment in empaneled hospitals. This comprehensive scheme encompasses various medical procedures, including cardiology, neurosurgery, orthopedics, oncology, and pediatric care.
Under Chief Minister Sarma’s leadership, Assam has launched initiatives like the Viksit Bharat Yatra and Ayushman Apke Dwar Abhiyan to facilitate the scheme’s successful implementation. These efforts have culminated in distributing Ayushman Cards to over 1 crore citizens, significantly enhancing healthcare access in the state.
Moreover, the e-KYC process under Ayushman Bharat has played a crucial role in validating beneficiaries listed in the National Food Security Act (NFSA) database. Government frontline workers, including ASHA workers and Bima Sakhis, have actively conducted house-to-house and camp-mode e-KYC campaigns, verifying 1.57 crore NFSA beneficiaries to date.
Empaneled hospitals, encompassing public, private, and community health centers, are pivotal in providing free cashless treatment to scheme beneficiaries. These hospitals serve as the cornerstone of the Ayushman Bharat initiative, ensuring that individuals receive quality healthcare services without financial barriers.