Advisor to Governor, K. Vijay Kumar today attended the 'Ayushman Bharat Diwas' celebration function here at Government Medical College, Jammu.The function was organized to mark the first anniversary of the launch of Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana” (AB-PMJAY).Chief Executive Officer, State Health Agency, AB-PMJAY, J&K, Bhupinder Kumar, Principal, GMC, Dr. Sunanda Raina , Director, Health Services, Jammu, Dr. Samir Mattoo , MD, JKMSCL, Shiv Kumar Gupta, State Nodal Officer, State Health Agency, J&K besides senior Health Functionaries and large number of beneficiaries of the scheme attended the function.
Speaking on the occasion, the Advisor lauded the health functionaries and field workforce of Health and Medical Education Department and executing agencies for their efforts in successful implementation of the ambitious “Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana” (AB-PMJAY) across J&K.The Advisor said that AB-PMJAY is world’s largest health assurance scheme launched by Prime Minister for the common people with Rs 5 lakh per family per year benefits portable across the country. A beneficiary covered under the scheme is entitled to avail cashless benefits from public and private empanelled hospitals across the country are one of the main features of the scheme, he added.Since the inception of the scheme, J&K has achieved milestones in areas like Golden cards generation, IEC campaigning, Hospital empanelment and provision of free and cashless services to the entitled beneficiaries, he maintained.
Terming prompt settlement of the cases a key to the success of the scheme, the Advisor asked the health functionaries to reward the Hospitals settling the bills under one week time and further called for encouraging other hospitals to do so.In his Key Note address, Chief Executive Officer, State Health Agency, Bhupinder Kumar expressed his gratitude to the Governor’s Administration for showing a keen interest in ensuring that the benefits of the schemes reach to the beneficiaries.Giving a brief account of AB-PMJAY scheme, he informed that in J&K, 155 Hospitals including 126 public and 29 private hospitals have been empanelled to provide free and cashless treatment to the entitled beneficiaries while, as per SECC, 6.30 lakh poor and vulnerable families of J&K are entitled for it. He further informed that around Rs 14 cr worth of claims have been settled till date under the scheme.State Health Agency has been successful in generating more than 11 lakh golden cards within the first 90 days of the launch of the scheme in J&K and 60% families have at least one golden card which is highest in the country, he added.The guests also released State Health Agency newsletter on key highlights of AB-PMJAY.On the occasion, some beneficiaries of the scheme shared their experiences besides a short video on beneficiary testimonial was also showcased.