Narendra Modi to roll out Ayushman Bharat scheme from Jharkhand on 23 September, says JP Nadda

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will roll out the Centre’s flagship Ayushman Bharat-National Health Protection Mission from Jharkhand on 23 September, Union Health Minister JP Nadda said on Thursday. [caption id=“attachment_5047261” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Reuters.[/caption] At the flagging-off ceremony of battery-operated bus services at AIIMS in Delhi, he said whatever budget is required to implement the Ayushman Bharat programme will be allotted by the government as it is committed to provide affordable healthcare to the people. The ambitious Ayushman Bharat scheme, touted as the world’s largest healthcare scheme, aims to provide a coverage of Rs five lakh to each family annually, benefiting more than 10 crore poor families. Nadda flagged off the buses after MoUs were exchanged between the AIIMS director and INDIA TV chairman. Ten battery-operated buses were donated to AIIMS by INDIA TV as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative. Maintenance of these buses, including salary of the drivers and other support staff, for two years will be entirely borne by INDIA TV and the same can be renewed further. These buses will be used for intramural campus transport of visiting patients, patients attendants and also for AIIMS staff.