Ayushman Bharat to generate 11L jobs in next 5-7 yrs: PM Modi

NEW DELHI: Calling Ayushman Bharat a revolutionary step towards a new India, PM Narendra Modi said the health insurance scheme is expected to generate over 11 lakh new jobs because of the demand arising out of it in the next five to seven years.
Modi was presiding over the valedictory function of Arogya Manthan, a two-day event organised by the National Health Authority marking the first anniversary of Ayushman Bharat.The government’s flagship scheme, designed to provide free annual health cover worth Rs 5 lakh to 50 crore people, was also rolled out by the PM in September last year from Ranchi.
Modi said the scheme is a great achievement and will be exemplary for the world as it has stirred hope among poor people of the country helping them recover from illnesses. “In the last one year, if any one person’s land, house, jewellery or any other items was saved from mortgage or sale for medical treatment, then this is a huge success of Ayushman India,” he said.
Modi stated that previous governments tried to launch many health schemes, but none of them were successful. “India’s poor couldn’t avail the best health infrastructure and remained devoid of quality healthcare services. But with Ayushman Bharat, people are now able to avail best treatment even in their non residing states. In last one year, about 50,000 poor could avail the benefit under PMJAY outside their district and state where they could get better facilities,” he said.
Modi also stressed on the need to make scheme fraud-free and said efforts are on to make it foolproof and bring about improvements to serve the people better. Highlighting his government’s initiatives towards improving health infrastructure and medical education in the country, Modi said many new hospitals will be set up in future and employment opportunities will increase.