<span style="color: #222222;">Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana from Ranchi in Jharkhand today and termed it a game-changer initiative to serve the poor. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Under this scheme, over 10 crore families will be provided health assurance worth five lakh rupees each, every year. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Speaking on this occasion, Mr Modi said, this is the world's largest government funded health care program targeting more than 50 crore beneficiaries. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Prime Minister said, the number of beneficiaries of this scheme is equal to the total population of the entire the European Union. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said, the number of beneficiaries is almost equal to the population of Canada, Mexico and the US taken together.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Mr Modi expressed confidence that in the days to come, people working in the medical field will come up with new schemes based on this health cover that has been provided today. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The scheme will provide cashless and paperless access to services for the beneficiary at the point of service. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Prime Minster said, magnitude of the scheme could be gauged from the fact that more than 1,300 ailments are covered under it, including heart diseases, kidney and liver disorders and diabetes. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said, BJP government is focused on empowering poor people. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Reiterating the slogan "Sabka saath, sabka vikas", Mr Modi said, the Ayushman scheme is not based on any communal or caste lines. He said, no one needs to register for the initiative. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">A health card would be provided to the beneficiaries for availing of the benefits. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Prime Minister said, a toll-free number will also be made available to the people for finding out more about the scheme.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Mr Modi also said that 2,500 modern hospitals would come up in tier-II and tier-III cities and would generate employment opportunities. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said, a total of 13,000 hospitals have become a part of the Ayushman Bharat scheme. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Mr Modi said, the government has taken a holistic approach to lay stress on affordable and preventive healthcare. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The PM also doled out token health cards to some of the beneficiaries after his arrival at Prabhat Tara Maidan in Ranchi. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He also laid foundations stones of two medical colleges at Chaibasa and Koderma. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Mr Modi also inaugurated ten Health and Wellness Centres in the state. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Speaking on this occasion, Union Health Minister J P Nadda said, it is a historic moment as Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana is going to bring a fundamental change in healthcare in the country. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said, the objectives of the Yojana are to reduce out of pocket hospitalisation expenses, fulfill unmet needs and improve access of identified families to quality inpatient care and day care surgeries. Mr Nadda said, this scheme will be paperless, cashless & portable.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Mr Nadda also said that the country will soon have 1.5 lakh wellness centers.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana is the world's largest fully government-financed health protection scheme. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">It is a visionary step towards advancing the agenda of Universal Health Coverage. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The services will include 1350 procedures covering pre and post hospitalization, diagnostics and medicines. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Under the scheme, the beneficiaries will be able to move across borders and access services across the country through the provider network seamlessly. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Meanwhile, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana launch programs were also held in various state capitals. </span>