New Delhi: Experts on Thursday (September 12) welcomed the government’s move to provide health coverage to all senior citizens aged 70 and above under flagship scheme. The health coverage for all senior citizens was approved by the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday (September 11). Older adults, irrespective of income, will get health coverage under the flagship scheme Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AA) — free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh. The scheme will cover about 6 crore senior citizens in the country.
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Welcoming the move, Abhay Soi, President, NATHEALTH said,
We are witnessing a historic shift in how the country approaches elder care, a segment with a high disease burden and in urgent need of social protection.
He said the move will “strengthen India’s position as a leader in inclusive healthcare”.
Mr Soi added,
The benefit package needs to be tailored to the population segment so that it encompasses the entire continuum of care, and NATHEALTH is ready to support the government with the rollout.
According to a cabinet communique, senior citizens aged 70 years and above, belonging to families already covered under the scheme, will get an additional top-up cover up to Rs 5 lakh per year for themselves (which they do not have to share with the other members of the family who are below the age of 70 years).
All other senior citizens of the age 70 years and above will get a cover up to Rs 5 lakh per year on a family basis.
The eligible senior citizens will also be issued a new distinct card under the scheme.
“Excellent move by the Govt of India to provide health coverage for all people aged 70 and above irrespective of income,” Dr. Sudhir Kumar, from Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, posted on social media platform X.
He also called out to provide health coverage to citizens of other age categories.
The top neurologist said,
There are about 9 crore people in the age group of 60 to 70 years. Hopefully, they can be included in this scheme before 2029; and hopefully, by 2034, every Indian citizen would be provided health coverage.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which in its Season 10 is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Ayushmann Khurrana. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In a world post COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental well-being, self-care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
