President Droupadi Murmu announced that all Indian citizens aged over 70 will receive free treatment under the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme. The announcement came during her address to the joint session of Parliament.

Currently, 55 crore participants in the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) receive free medical care. Known as the world's biggest publicly sponsored health insurance program, this policy intends to provide 12 crore families with an annual health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization.

The government's decision to include citizens over 70 years old in the scheme ensures that elderly people receive necessary healthcare without financial burden. This move is part of the broader strategy to make healthcare accessible and affordable for all, particularly the elderly, who are often more vulnerable to health issues.

Alongside this expansion, the government is also making significant progress in opening 25,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country. These centers are designed to provide affordable medicines to the public, reducing the cost of healthcare and making it more accessible to everyone.

President Murmu also emphasized India's role in promoting AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) globally. The recent celebration of the International Day of Yoga highlighted the increasing global recognition of India's traditional health practices. By promoting AYUSH, India aims to contribute to global health and wellness.

Additionally, the scheme mandates the State Health Agencies (SHAs) to handle the empanelment of hospitals. The Hospital Empanelment and Management (HEM) guidelines ensure a wide network of hospitals under the AB-PMJAY, providing necessary health services to beneficiaries and strengthening the healthcare infrastructure in India.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/ Susmita Bhandary/MSM)