New Initiative for Senior Citizens, Ayushman Vay Vandana Card to Provide Free Treatment and Improve Quality of Life

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated health sector projects worth approximately ₹12,850 crore at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in New Delhi. Under this initiative, every senior citizen aged 70 years and above will receive free treatment in hospitals. These individuals will be issued the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card, enabling access to comprehensive healthcare benefits.  

Objective of the Vay Vandana Card:

The Ayushman Vay Vandana Card is a key extension of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). It aims to make healthcare services accessible and free for senior citizens across the country. Over 1 million senior citizens have already registered under this initiative, availing themselves of free treatment and healthcare services. This effort not only ensures healthcare accessibility but also strives to improve the quality of life for the elderly population.  

Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, A Lan dmark Healthcare Scheme:

Launched on September 23, 2018, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) aims to achieve universal health coverage. The scheme provides annual health insurance of ₹5 lakh to the country’s most vulnerable sections. To date, nearly 55 crore individuals have been covered under PM-JAY, with 35.45 crore Ayushman Cards issued.  

Services Offered Under PM-JAY:

1. Medical examinations, treatment, and consultations  
2. Pre-hospitalization expenses  
3. Medicines and medical consumables  
4. Non-intensive and intensive care services  
5. Diagnostic and laboratory tests  
6. Surgical implantation services  
7. Accommodation and food during hospitalization  
8. Management of treatment complications  
9. Post-hospitalization follow-up care for up to 15 days  

Vay Vandana Card, A Dedicated Benefit for Senior Citizens: On September 11, 2024, the Union Cabinet approved the extension of PM-JAY to cover senior citizens aged 70 years and above through the Vay Vandana Card. This card is designed to provide free healthcare services not just to the economically disadvantaged but also to middle- and upper-income senior citizens.  

Remarkable Progress within Three Weeks:

• Over 1 million senior citizens have registered for the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card.  
• Approximately 400,000 of these registrations are by women.  
• Treatments worth over ₹9 crore have been authorized, benefiting more than 4,800 senior citizens, including women.

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