PM Modi Criticizes Delhi, West Bengal for Not Implementing Ayushman Bharat; Announces Health Projects Worth Rs 12,850 Crore  

Prime Minister Modi extends Ayushman Bharat to seniors nationwide, but Delhi and West Bengal excluded due to local government stances.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a major expansion of Ayushman Bharat, extending free health coverage to all senior citizens aged 70 and above across India. This scheme, part of a series of healthcare projects worth Rs 12,850 crore, was launched on the ninth Ayurveda Day, also marking the birth anniversary of Dhanvantari, revered as the god of medicine.

During the launch, Modi highlighted several key health initiatives, including the U-WIN portal, which will digitalize the vaccination process for pregnant women and infants. Under the Ayushman Bharat expansion, eligible seniors will receive up to Rs 5 lakh in annual hospital coverage through the new Ayushman Vaya Vandana card, regardless of income.

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However, the Prime Minister expressed regret that seniors in Delhi and West Bengal will not benefit from this program, attributing this to “political interests” within the states’ governments. “Walls of political interests are preventing me from serving the elderly in these regions,” he said, adding, “I apologize to the elderly in Delhi and West Bengal.”

In addition to Ayushman Bharat, Modi also inaugurated Phase II of the All India Institute of Ayurveda in New Delhi, several medical colleges, ESIC hospitals, and projects across AIIMS facilities. He laid foundation stones for nursing colleges, critical care blocks, and new ESI hospitals and launched a nationwide health awareness campaign, “Desh Ka Prakriti Parikshan Abhiyan.”

The Prime Minister concluded by stressing his government’s commitment to improving healthcare access, announcing plans to add 75,000 MBBS and MD seats across the country to address growing demand for doctors, especially in rural areas.

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