The Medical Benefits Council of the Employees' State Insurance Corporation on Friday approved merging the Employees' State Insurance (ESI) scheme with Ayushman Bharat PM-Jan Arogya Yojana (JAY) to increase healthcare access for beneficiaries. The decision to integrate the two schemes was taken at the 86th meeting of the Medical Benefits Council held at the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) headquarters, the Labor Ministry said in a statement.
More than 12 crore poor families benefited
The meeting was chaired by ESIC Director General (DG) Ashok Kumar Singh. Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY is the world's largest health insurance scheme. It aims to provide health insurance of Rs 5 lakh per year to more than 12 crore poor families (about 55 crore beneficiaries). The Council also approved the implementation of Common Support Mission (CSM) for the states. The objective of CSM is to improve and strengthen the medical service delivery system of ESI in the States with a focus on insured person centric approach.
Approval to start awareness camp
Further, the Council approved starting of Annual Preventive Health Checkup and Awareness Camps for the beneficiaries with a focus on early diagnosis of lifestyle disorders and detection of nutritional deficiencies among insured persons/women/transgenders. The government will set up 10 new ESIC medical colleges and extend the unemployment allowance scheme for ESI Corporation members till June, 2026. Many important decisions have been taken to further strengthen the infrastructure and medical facilities of ESIC.
As the government prepares to launch health coverage for all people aged 70 years and above, the National Health Authority, the implementing agency of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, is assessing the need to add more health packages for the elderly. Official sources said the expanded scheme is likely to be launched by the end of this month. This will benefit six crore citizens of about 4.5 crore families.
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