I apologise to people of Bengal, Delhi where regional govts did not implement Ayushman Bharat: Modi

"I apologize to the elderly in Delhi and West Bengal since the governments here are not implementing the scheme," he said while speaking during an event marking the 9th Ayurveda Day.

On the occasion of Dhanvantari Jayanti and 9th Ayurveda Day, the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched, inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple projects related to the health sector worth around Rs 12,850 crore at All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in New Delhi.

Modi underlined that to overcome the despair of the poor, our Government introduced the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, where the government would bear the cost of hospitalization of the poor up to Rs. 5 lakh.

The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction that about 4 crore poor people in the country have benefited from the Ayushman Yojana by getting treated without having to pay a single rupee.

Modi remarked that when he meets the beneficiaries of Ayushman Yojana in different states of the country, he feels satisfied that the scheme was a blessing for every person associated with it, be it a doctor or a paramedical staff.

Expressing satisfaction on the expansion of Ayushman Yojana, Modi said that every elderly person was looking forward to it and the poll guarantee, if elected for the third term, of bringing all the elderly above 70 years of age under the ambit of Ayushman Yojana was being fulfilled.

He added that every elderly person above 70 years of age in the country will get free treatment in the hospital by a Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card.

Modi highlighted that the card was universal and there was no restriction on income, be it poor or middle class or upper class. Informing that the scheme would prove to be a milestone for its universal applicability,

Modi remarked that with a Ayushman Vaya Vandana card for an elderly in the house, the Out-of-Pocket expenditure will be reduced to a great extent.