Ayushman Bharat: Government improves on the universal healthcare for all citizens, especially senior citizens of 70 years and above

India expands Ayushman Bharat health scheme to provide free treatment for all citizens over 70. President Murmu announced the decision, extending coverage beyond the current 55 crore beneficiaries. The move aims to improve healthcare access for elderly Indians.

While launching the latest form of Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme, President Droupadi Murmu said that the citizens of India and both in rural and urban areas, and those who are above 70 years of age shall be provided free treatment.

Addressing the joint session of the Parliament later, President Murmu said that ‘The government is going to take yet another decision regarding this’. Now, each person of 70 plus age will also be covered and will also be able to get the treatment under Ayushman Bharat Yojana for free.

As of now, the world’s biggest public health insurance is the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). That at present it offers ₹ 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to about 55 crore beneficiaries.

The extension to all elderly persons over 70 years irrespective of their economic status is a giant leap towards the achievement of UHC for the elderly population in India. This particular change is expected to reduce the healthcare expenses which millions of elderly patients and their families incur in India.

Other health care measures highlighted by President Murmu include aspects like how 25000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras are being established rapidly all over the country. These centres can offer cheap and quality generic medicines to the patients because they have adequate capital investment.

Ayushman Bharat was initiated in the year 2018 and it is a health insurance mission which aims to cover insurance for 10 crore families. The State Health Agencies are authorised to empanel the hospitals under the scheme of the Hospital Empanelment and Management.

These changes may be expected to alter the health and quality of life of the increasing elderly population in India due to this extension of medical insurance. This kind of commitment to increase the accessibility of health care further intensifies the significance of health assurance in governmental structures even more.

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There are no details on the need for this new provision as well as the period of its applicability. Over the next few months, the extent of attention given to this policy will increase among health policy analysts and advocates for elderly persons.