Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept. 24: The Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) has generated 91,423 Ayushman cards in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, including 4,848 cards for senior citizens, while 3,164 patients have been referred for treatment under the scheme.
The figures come as AB-PMJAY completes eight years since its launch on September 23, 2018, with the scheme continuing to focus on reducing the financial burden associated with hospitalisation and improving access to healthcare for eligible beneficiaries.
AB-PMJAY provides health cover of up to Rs. 5 lakh per family each year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. Eligible beneficiaries can use the coverage at empanelled government and private hospitals through a cashless and paperless system.
In the Islands, the generation of more than 91,000 cards provides eligible residents with access to the benefits available under the scheme. The 3,164 referrals recorded under AB-PMJAY have also enabled patients to access required healthcare services and specialised treatment through the empanelled healthcare network.
The scheme has expanded beyond its original beneficiary framework with the inclusion of all citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their socio-economic status, under the Ayushman Vay Vandana initiative. In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 4,848 Ayushman Vay Vandana Cards have been generated for senior citizens.
The expansion is part of the scheme’s evolution in response to changing healthcare requirements, with coverage extending across different stages of life. Its stated objective remains to ensure that financial constraints do not prevent eligible families from accessing necessary medical treatment.
The State Health Agency responsible for implementing AB-PMJAY in the Union Territory is continuing efforts to increase awareness, facilitate beneficiary access and strengthen the delivery of healthcare services.
With card generation and treatment referrals forming the key indicators of implementation in the Islands, the local health agency’s focus remains on ensuring that eligible beneficiaries can use the healthcare protection available through the national scheme.
