President Droupadi Murmu said today that all Indian residents above the age of 70 will be eligible for free healthcare under the Ayushman Bharat health insurance system.

The opening of 25,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras in the country is also moving quickly, she stated during a joint session of Parliament.

President Murmu stated that the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) provides free health care to 55 crore participants.

free healthcare Image Source: InsuranceDekho

“Further, the Government is going to take yet another decision in this area. Now every elderly person above 70 years of age will also be covered and get the benefit of free treatment under Ayushman Bharat Yojana," the President said.

The AB-PMJAY, the world's largest publicly sponsored health insurance programme, intends to provide health coverage of ₹ 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to 12 crore people.

The Hospital Empanelment and Management (HEM) rules for hospital empanelment under the AB-PMJAY plan delegate responsibilities for empanelling hospitals to State Health Agencies (SHAs).

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