PM: India to be free from TB by 2025

MODI ASSURES PROVISION OF RS500,000 INSURANCE COVER TO 100M FAMILIES

Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday urged the people to be more conscious about preventive healthcare.

Modi also said the government had set a target to free India from tuberculosis by 2025 and that the government and insurance companies would jointly provide Rs500,000 insurance cover to about 100 million families per year.

In his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’, the Prime Minister said: “Preventive healthcare is the least costly and the easiest one as well. As much as we are conscious about preventive healthcare, it will be beneficial for the person, his family and society.”

Citing some key steps his government has taken for patients, the Prime Minister said: “The cost for heart stent for the patients has been reduced by 85 per cent. Knee implants cost has also been regulated and reduced by 5070 per cent.

“Under ‘Ayushman Bharat Yojana’, the Indian government and insurance companies will jointly provide Rs500,000 for treatment to about 100 million families or say 500 million annually.”

He said MBBS seats in 479 medical colleges had been increased to 68,000 and new wings of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) were being opened in various states with a view to provide better treatment to people across the country. “One new medical college will be set up for every three districts.”