PM modi to launch Ayushman Bharat scheme for senior citizens in October

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to launch the expanded Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) in October, aiming to include all people aged 70 and above, regardless of their socio-economic status. The scheme is expected to benefit around 45 million families, including 60 million senior citizens. The health ministry is working to add services exclusively for geriatric care, as 58% of the people in the 70-year-old age bracket are women, with 54% being widows. The U-WIN Portal, developed for digitizing vaccination services for pregnant women and children under the Universal Immunization Programme, will also be launched in 11 regional languages, including Hindi. The portal has already registered 6.46 crore beneficiaries, held 1.04 crore vaccination sessions, and recorded 23.06 crore administered vaccine doses. The health ministry is also focusing on using drones for healthcare delivery in hard-to-reach areas