Jharkhand Tops The List In Providing Benefits To COVID-19 Patients Under Ayushman Bharat: State Health Minister

Health Minister of Jharkhand said a total of 1,419 patients have been benefitted under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme.

Jharkhand Health Minister Banna Gupta (Image: @BannaGupta76/Twitter)

Ranchi: Banna Gupta, the Health Minister of Jharkhand on Thursday gave a statement glorifying the state’s efforts in providing benefits to COVID-19 patients under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme.

The minister said that a total of 1,419 patients have been benefitted while adding that the state is at the top of the list of providing such benefits.

"Jharkhand is on top of the list in providing benefits to COVID-19 patients under Ayushman Bharat Scheme. A total of 1,419 patients have been benefitted. Whereas, only 19 people in Bihar, countries biggest state Uttar Pradesh has provided such benefits to 875 people," said Mr Gupta.

The minister also took this opportunity to pin point the efforts of other BJP-ruled states for lacking behind in implementing Ayushman Bharat Scheme to benefit COVID-19. While slamming the Gujarat model, which is highly talked about and given as an example for other states to adopt, the minister said that it has given benefits to zero people under this scheme.

Talking about BJP’s work in Bihar, Gujarat and UP, he said, "How sensitive are they towards the public can be easily guessed? What suggestions should I give to them (BJP ruled states)? There's an alliance of BJP in Bihar, still, they benefit only 19 patients. The Gujarat Model which BJP leaders suggest us to adopt has zero participation in the Central government's ambitious scheme. UP is a much bigger state than Jharkhand and still benefits just 875 patients. We are a tribal state. We lack finance and information; still in this adverse situation we provided all possible aid to our people".

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPMJAY) is the flagship health protection scheme of the Government of India that provides a cover of up to Rs 5 lakhs per family per year, for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to over 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families. A total of 6.05 lakh COVID-19 patients have been treated under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme in India so far.