Bijapur: In a bid to enhance healthcare and wellness in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the first healthcare and wellness centre under Ayushman Bharat Yojna, in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur.
“The Ayushman Bharat scheme is not limited to simply providing a service, but also invokes public participation so that we can create a healthy, capable and content New India,” PM Modi said after launching the scheme.
Ayushman Bharat, also known as the National Health Protection Scheme, has twin missions — first, creating a network of health and wellness centres to deliver comprehensive primary health care close to the community, and second, providing insurance cover to 40% of India’s population, that is most deprived, for secondary and tertiary care, including, for instance, hospitalisation costs.
ALSO READ: Mehbooba to seek fast track court for Kathua rape
It aims at covering 10 crore poor and vulnerable families and provides a cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation.
The healthcare scheme was approved by the Union Cabinet on March 21 this year with the budgetary support of Rs 10,500 crore.
Modi’s visit to the state coincides with the birth anniversary of Dalit icon Dr B R Ambedkar. He is the first prime minister to visit the tribal district of Bijapur, where he inaugurated a new rail line and a passenger train between Gudum and Bhanupratapur.
(With agencies inputs)