PM Modi to launch Ayushman Bharat scheme for all J&K residents on Dec 26

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to launch Ayushman Bharat scheme on Saturday, December 26, through video conferencing to broaden the coverage of health insurance to all residents of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said on Thursday, December 24, that the scheme will ensure universal health coverage and concentrate on providing financial risk protection and assuring quality and affordable essential health services to all individuals and communities.

Also Read: PM Modi proposes library for Buddhist scriptures to 'guide modern world'

"The scheme will ensure Universal Health Coverage and focus on providing financial risk protection and ensuring quality and affordable essential health services to all individuals and communities," the PMO said in a statement.

Home Minister Amit Shah and the union territory's Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha will also be present on the occasion.

The scheme will provide free of cost insurance cover to all residents of Jammu and Kashmir, the PMO said, adding that it will provide financial cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family on a floater basis to all residents of the UT.

Also Read: 41,000 Ayushman Bharat centres provided healthcare services to 8.8 cr people amid COVID-19 pandemic: Govt

There is provision for operational extension of 'Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana' (PM-JAY) to approximately 15 lakh additional families, the PMO statement said, adding that that the scheme will operate on insurance mode in convergence with PM-JAY.

The benefits of the scheme will be portable across the country. Hospitals empanelled under the PM-JAY scheme shall provide services under this scheme as well, the PMO added.

Also Read: Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries cross 1 crore mark; 'proud moment for Indians,' says PM Modi