Rajkot: The Ayushman Bharat scheme launched in 2018 has helped save Rs 30,000 crore in medical expenses of the poor people and unburdened nearly 1.5 crore of serious financial concerns, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday.
Modi said the Jan Aushadhi Kendras have complimented this scheme by helping the poor save an average Rs 3,600 crore annually through inexpensive medicines. “Nearly 3.5 lakh people are benefiting from these centres daily,” he informed.
“Earlier, the possibility of poor people not preferring to get medical treatment at all was high due to financial constraints, other expenses and responsibilities. Many suffering from serious ailments left it to God and got engaged in prayers as the only panacea. This is not any superstition but a situation arising out of lack of money for proper treatment,” the PM said.
Many of them aged between 40-45 years, said Modi, endured illnesses for years fearing that the money they borrow for treatment would only burden their children with concerns of repayment.
“But getting such a health security cover has brought about sea change in the attitude and mindset of the poor and instilled confidence in them,” he said, adding the welfare schemes like toilets, water taps and cooking gas brought in lot of optimism among people.