New Delhi, Sep 12 (IANS) About seven in 10 Indians believe the government’s move to provide health coverage to all above 70, under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), will significantly benefit the elderly, according to a poll on Thursday.
The opinion poll conducted by Matrize survey agency, showed that 85.19 per cent Indians believe the government took the right decision, while 69.75 per cent say it will greatly benefit the older adults above the age of 70.
About 5 per cent said that the move was a political decision, and 9.26 per cent said that it will hardly benefit senior citizens.
The health coverage for all senior citizens was approved by the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Under the AB PM-JAY scheme, older adults, irrespective of income, will get health coverage — free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh. The scheme is expected to provide health cover to about 6 crore senior citizens in the country.
Industry experts also hailed the government’s decision noting that it will boost the health of older adults.
“It is a significant milestone in providing essential healthcare services to the elderly,” said Anil Matai, Director General, Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI).
“As our elderly population grows, so does the need for specialised geriatric care, and this expansion will enable more families to access essential services without the burden of overwhelming medical expenses,” added Dr. Harsh Mahajan, President FICCI (Health Services).
Under the scheme, each senior citizen will receive a health card, making it easier for them to access the scheme’s services.
Senior citizens aged 70 years and above, belonging to families already covered under the scheme, will get an additional top-up cover up to Rs 5 lakh per year for themselves (which they do not have to share with the other members of the family who are below the age of 70 years), according to a Cabinet communique.
Meanwhile, Mahajan raised concerns about the potential challenges that smaller and medium-sized hospitals may face with the scheme.
“These institutions often operate on tight margins, and the added pressure of accommodating a larger patient base, especially with senior citizens requiring more intensive care, could strain their resources,” he said.
In addition, he also pointed out the need to ensure timely payments as “delays can disrupt cash flow and hinder the ability of these hospitals to maintain the quality of care”.
Matai also emphasised the need to also include the people “who are currently excluded from both government and private health insurance schemes, as part of AB PM-JAY”.
–IANS
rvt/pgh
Disclaimer
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by BhaskarLive.in and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website.
Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of BhaskarLive.in We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
Every effort is made to keep the website up and running smoothly. However, BhaskarLive.in takes no responsibility for, and will not be liable for, the website being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond our control.
For any legal details or query please visit original source link given with news or click on Go to Source.
Our translation service aims to offer the most accurate translation possible and we rarely experience any issues with news post. However, as the translation is carried out by third part tool there is a possibility for error to cause the occasional inaccuracy. We therefore require you to accept this disclaimer before confirming any translation news with us.
If you are not willing to accept this disclaimer then we recommend reading news post in its original language.
