PANJIM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious healthcare scheme ‘Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY)’ was rolled out in Goa on Sunday. A total of 36,539 beneficiaries have been identified under the universal scheme, which will be integrated with State’s Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana (DDSSY).
Goa was amongst those 27 States that launched the scheme that provides insurance cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year, for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. Under the vision of Ayushman Bharat, PMJAY will be implemented so that each and every citizen receives his due share of healthcare.
The healthcare programme, which was launched by Governor Dr Mridula Sinha, will provide cashless and paperless access to services for the beneficiary at the point of service. It will reduce catastrophic expenditure for hospitalisation, which impoverishes people and will help mitigate the financial risk arising out of catastrophic health episodes
In Goa, total of 36,539 families that include 21,371 from rural areas and 15,168 in urban are identified to be eligible for PMJAY. All the 447 procedures under DDSSY will also be available at empanelled private hospitals under PMJAY, which covers nearly 1350 procedures.
Currently to start with, four Hospitals- Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC), North and South Goa District Hospitals and Sub District Hospital, Ponda have been empanelled.
Governor said that the word ‘Ayushman’ in the scheme was apt as health is very important for every individual. She lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for launching such a scheme which will benefit crores of needy people in their health needs.
“I am giving lot of blessings to the Prime Minister. He calls me ‘Didi’ and whenever I meet him I used to bless him “Ayushman Bhav,” she said.
“Now these days, we could not meet on festivals and other occasions. So whenever I call him on telephone to wish him, I wish ‘Ayushman Bhav,” the Governor added.
Guest of honour and PWD Minister Ramakrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar said that under Modi’s leadership, India has moved on from roti, kapda and makan with stress on other amenities including healthcare. He said that it is a revolutionary programme, wherein the common man will benefit.
TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai said the scheme, rightly called as Modi Care, is the world’s largest health care mega project focusing on poor. “The scheme will help India realise the demographic dividend to create a New India,” he said.
Taking a dig at Aam Aadmi Party’s Mohalla Clinic concept of Delhi, Sardesai said, “Our government is not of Mohalla clinics but of super-specialty facilities that are found in the government-run hospitals including in Goa.
“In Goa, today, the health sector has transformed so much that people are looking at GMC as first option for super-specialty treatment,” he said.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane announced that the scheme will be integrated with DDSSY.
“Currently only four hospitals are empanelled. Shortly, private hospitals will be covered under the scheme,” he said.
He applauded that the scheme, which is first of its kind in the world, will help in transforming the healthcare sector in the country. “The aim is to reach out to the poorest of persons, who are not in position to access healthcare,” Minister said.
Present on the occasion were Member of Parliament (South) Narendra Sawaikar, Chief Secretary IAS Dharmendra Sharma, Secretary Health IAS Ashok Kumar, GMC Dean Dr Pradeep Naik, Health Services Director Sanjiv Desai, which showed live telecast of Prime Minister launching the flagship scheme in Ranchi.
