The government can make another big announcement regarding AB-PMJAY i.e. Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. It is reported that the scheme can be expanded in terms of diseases, under which many diseases including Alzheimer’s and dementia can be included. However, nothing has been said officially regarding this. Recently, the Central Government had announced to include all the elderly aged 70 years and above in the scheme.
According to Times of India, government sources have said that the National Health Authority is preparing to include more packages in the Ayushman Bharat scheme. These especially include diseases of which the elderly become victims due to age. It is being said that after the expansion of the scheme, there is a possibility of a huge increase in the number of beneficiaries. At present, the scheme includes 25 health packages.
Sources told the newspaper, ‘A committee led by medical experts regularly reviews AB-PMJAY. However, this case is special, because in this a special focus is being placed on a sub group. The committee will work on health problems affecting the elderly. These especially include those diseases which require hospitalization. They will try to prepare a package so that treatment can be provided at the right time.
According to the report, stroke, heart failure, cancer, Alzheimer’s and dementia are among the health problems faced by many elderly people. Speaking to the newspaper, a Health Ministry official said that there are possibilities that treatment of these diseases and complications could be included in the package being prepared for the elderly.
Under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, started in the year 2018, all elderly people of any income group of 70 years and above get free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh.
