President Murmu Announces Free Healthcare for Citizens Over 70 Under Ayushman Bharat

President Droupadi Murmu announced today on June 27, 2024, that all Indian citizens over 70 will be eligible for free treatment under the Ayushman Bharat health insurance system, marking a significant step toward increasing access to healthcare. This announcement was made during her address at the joint sitting of Parliament.

President Murmu also highlighted the rapid progress in establishing 25,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the nation. These centers aim to provide affordable generic medicines to the public, further enhancing the reach of healthcare services.

Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) already provides free health services to 55 crore beneficiaries. As the world's largest publicly funded health insurance scheme, AB-PMJAY offers a health cover of ₹5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to 12 crore families.

"Further, the Government is going to take yet another decision in this area. Now every elderly person above 70 years of age will also be covered and get the benefit of free treatment under Ayushman Bharat Yojana," President Murmu stated, underscoring the government's commitment to inclusive healthcare.

The expansion of AB-PMJAY is a significant step towards ensuring that India's aging population receives adequate medical care. The scheme's Hospital Empanelment and Management (HEM) guidelines mandate State Health Agencies (SHAs) to empanel hospitals, ensuring that a wide network of healthcare facilities is available to beneficiaries.

This initiative reflects the government's dedication to improving healthcare infrastructure and accessibility, particularly for the vulnerable elderly population, thereby enhancing the overall health and well-being of the nation.