AB-PMJAY (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Health)

Context:More than 3 million Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA), Anganwadi workers, and helpers will now be covered under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).

• About: “World’s largest government funded healthcare program” targeting more than 50 crore beneficiaries.
• Nodal ministry: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• Benefits under the scheme:

oAyushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) will provide a cover of up to Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year, for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization.

oOver 10.74 crore vulnerable entitled families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries) will be eligible for these benefits.

oPMJAY will provide cashless and paperless access to services for the beneficiary at the point of service.

oPMJAY will help reduce catastrophic expenditure for hospitalizations, which impoverishes people and will help mitigate the financial risk arising out of catastrophic health episodes.

• Components:

oCreation of 1,50,000 Health and Wellness Centers which will bring health care closer to the homes of the people.

oPradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) which provides health protection cover to poor and vulnerable families for secondary and tertiary care.