Modi 'apologises' to Delhi, Bengal for not executing Ayushman Bharat for elderly; says TMC and AAP not implementing it for political reasons

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday apologised to people of West Bengal and Delhi – two states not implementing the Ayushman Bharat programme – for being unable to provide the Rs 5 lakh health insurance cover to individuals of age 70 years and above.

“The reason is that the governments of West Bengal and Delhi are not implementing the scheme due to their political interests,” he said here at an event after rolling out an extension of the Ayushman Bharat programme to cover senior citizens above 70 years irrespective of their income status.

Accusing the two opposition-ruled states for blocking the flagship scheme, Modi said, “For their political self-interest, they are oppressing their own ailing elderly.”

Last month the Union Cabinet approved extending the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojna family insurance programme to all Indians above 70 years of age benefiting six crore senior citizens regardless of their income status.

The approval, costing Rs 3,437 crore in the first year, will benefit an estimated 4.5 crore families, according to an official estimate.

Modi said every elderly person above 70 years would get free treatment in the hospital by a Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card, leading to a reduction in the out-of-pocket expenditure on health.

Rolling out the Ayushman Bharat extension programme was one of the several health schemes worth Rs 12,850 crore that the Prime Minister inaugurated.

He underscored the importance of validating traditional herbs like Ashwagandha, turmeric, and black pepper through high-impact scientific studies.

“Lab validation of our traditional healthcare systems will not only increase the value of these herbs but also create a significant market”, he said, flagging a rising global demand for Ashwagandha, which is projected to reach $2.5 billion by the end of this decade.

He launched four Ayush Centres of Excellence including one at Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru to research on diabetes and metabolic disorders.

“At the IISc centre, a clinical trial will be conducted, with a longitudinal study over two years, to assess the efficacy of two new Ayurvedic formulations (Mustadi Ghana Vati and Varadi Ghana Vati) in pre-diabetes and Type II diabetes,” the institute said in a statement.

Modi laid the foundation stones for six ESIC hospitals including two at Bommasandra and Narasapur in Karnataka and inaugurated an ESIC hospital at Indore. He also launched drone services at 11 tertiary care centres.