Consequent upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s launch of Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), the District Health Department of Dhemaji also ceremonially launched the scheme in the district on Sunday.
Speaking the occasion at a function in the Dhemaji Public Auditorium in presence of the Health Department staff members and others, Dhemaji MLA Dr Ranuj Pegu said it was a historic step towards universal health insurance taken up by the Central Government.
He urged the Government officials and elite citizens to make the common people aware about the flagship scheme that the actual needy and poor destitute should avail the scheme benefit.
The MLA while clearing the difference between earlier Atal Amrit Yojana and PMJAY said that Atal Amrit Yojana covered health insurance of an individual while the new scheme covers all the family members.
“The earlier scheme assured reimbursement of maximum Rs 2 lakh against medical treatment and the new one will cover Rs 5 lakh reimbursement against medical cost against a five-member family for a year. All families enlisted in BPL category in the Socio-economic & Caste Census-2011 will get the benefits of the scheme benefit,” said Pegu.
MLA Pegu also said that patients or the beneficiaries of the scheme should inquire if any particular hospital is empanelled/ agreed with the Government and the particular disease or ailment is treated in the hospital before being admitted for treatment.
On the occasion, Dhemaji Joint Director of Health Services Dr Ranjit Kakati informed that benefit of PMJAY scheme includes about 62,000 families in the district and the facility would be given in all Government hospitals and medical colleges in the first phase.
“The District Health Department is ready to hand over Golden Cards to the selected families,” he informed.
Dhemaji Additional Deputy Commissioner SK Das, who is holding the charge of the DC, requested all concerned to work for successful implementation of the flagship scheme and ensure that scheme benefit goes to the actual poor and the needy ones.
Among others, Jonai SDO(C) Nisarge Hivare, Dhemaji Town Development Committee chairman Tulan Konwar besides medical officers, nursing staff and other health workers attended the programme.