Ayushman Bharat: 6.85 Lakh Patients Treated In 100 Days Says FM

On completion of 100 days on the Modi government's flagship scheme 'Ayushman Bharat,' the Indian government's ambitious health care scheme, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley called it a 'game changer' in his Facebook post titled '100 days of Aayushman Bharat' on Tuesday.

"This scheme is a game changer in healthcare. Many people from the weaker sections avoided hospital treatment in order to avoid the burden of an unbearable payment. Today 40% of India's poorest are assured of a treatment in a hospital at the cost of public expenditure," he said.

He further said, "In the first 100 days, 6.85 lakh patients have been provided hospital treatment. 5.1 lakh claims have availed of the scheme, for which payment has been released. This averages 5000 claims per day for the first 100 days. No patient have had to pay a single Rupee." The Ayushman Bharat scheme, also known as Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (PMJAY) was rolled out on 23 September 2018.

The total number of hospitals covered under this scheme is currently at 16,000 and includes both government and private hospitals. The number of private hospitals under the scheme make up for more than 50 percent of the number.

Jaitley further said that the "scheme also supports the hospitals as an institution by ensuring patients for them. This will lead to more hospitals (especially in Tier II and III cities), and those with better equipment. Health sector jobs are set to increase. PMJAY will help create an accountable health system because beneficiary feedback is an integral part of its implementation."