Coinciding with the completion of two years of the State Government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, on May 10, launched Ayushman Asom – Mukhya Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana(AAMMJAY), a family-floater health assurance scheme offering cashless medical treatment up to ₹ 5 lakh per family per year. The scheme is aimed at promoting accessible and affordable healthcare.
An initiative of the Government of Assam’s Department of Medical Education & Research, beneficiaries for Ayushman Asom shall be those who are listed under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
The scheme proposes to cover 1,578 healthcare procedures in more than 300 empanelled hospitals within the State and all Ayushman Bharat-empanelled hospitals across the country. The Scheme shall benefit approximately 26 lakh families. The number, in phases, will go up to 32 lakh.
Addressing the ceremonial launching event held at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra Auditorium, Dr. Sarma said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s relentless pursuit of the concept of Antyodaya, meaning the rise of the last person, as formulated by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, in day-to-day governance, was the motivating factor behind AAMMJAY.
Owing to certain limitations, a significant number of families belonging to the economically disadvantaged sections was left out of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, which also offers cashless healthcare treatment benefits of up to ₹ 5 lakh per family per year, the Chief Minister stated. He added that Ayushman Asom, covering around 26 lakh uncovered families, would ensure that all economically vulnerable families of the State are covered by either Ayushman Bharat or Ayushman Asom.
Stating that the Atal Amrit Abhiyan Society would be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Scheme, the Chief Minister exuded confidence that it will prove decisive in realising the goal of inclusive growth and development. Stating that out-of-pocket expenditures on healthcare expenses make a huge dent on the wellbeing of vulnerable families, Dr. Sarma said beneficiary families shall be able to lead a more dignified and fruitful life from now onwards as their healthcare expenditure woes would drastically go down.
Dr. Sarma also rolled out Mukhya Mantri Lok Seva Arogya Yojana, a healthcare benefit scheme for employees of the Government of Assam beginning August 15 that would do away with the cumbersome process of reimbursement for medical treatment expenses borne by employees on themselves and their dependents.
