Dehradun: The Ayushman Bharat scheme has completed seven years in Uttarakhand, providing free treatment to 17 lakh patients with an expenditure of ₹3,300 crore by the government. Over 61 lakh Ayushman cards have been issued under Ayushman Bharat, Atal Ayushman Yojana, and the State Government Health Scheme.
Launched on 23 September 2018 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ayushman Bharat offers families free treatment up to ₹5 lakh annually. In Uttarakhand, 5.97 lakh families are covered under the central scheme, while the state has extended similar benefits to 23 lakh families and to employees and pensioners. Currently, 396 hospitals in the state, including 201 government and 195 private facilities, are listed under the scheme, along with more than 31,000 hospitals across India.
Special provisions include the Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana for senior citizens above 70 years, with over 20,000 cards issued in Uttarakhand, benefitting 5,000 patients at a cost of ₹20 crore. For road accident victims, treatment starts immediately on the basis of a police report, providing cashless care up to ₹1.5 lakh or seven days.
State Health Authority Chairman Arvind Singh Hyanki said strict action is being taken against hospitals submitting false claims, ensuring quality services. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami called Ayushman the world’s largest healthcare scheme and a lifeline for patients, while Health Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat described it as a boon for the poor, enabling free treatment in major government and private hospitals.
