Home Minister launches ‘Ayushman CAPF’ health card

On November 2, 2021, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that, Central government has extended the benefits of “Ayushman CAPF healthcare scheme” to the personnel of all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).

Key Points

• CAPFs would be able to avail the benefits of the central health insurance programme in a phased manner.
• Scheme will be available by December-end across India. It will benefit 35 lakh CAPF personnel and their family members.
• Scheme was launched by handing over the health card to National Security Guard (NSG)

Background

Scheme was launched in line with the commitment of Modi govt to ensure healthcare facilities of CAPF personnel so that they can discharge their duties with full concentration.

When was this scheme launched?

The Ayushman CAPF healthcare scheme was first launched on January 23, 2021 by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Who are covered under the scheme?

It covers all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) officials & serving personnel as well as their dependents from seven forces namely, Border Security Forces (BSF), Assam Rifles, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and National Security Guard (NSG).

Significance of the scheme

Under this scheme, CAPF personnel & their families would be able to avail cashless in-patient and out-patient healthcare facilities across the hospitals that comes under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY.

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)

PM-JAY is a national public health insurance fund, launched with the aim of providing free access to health insurance coverage for low-income earners in India. Around bottom 50% of the people in India qualifies for this scheme. Under the scheme, free secondary health care is provided to those requiring specialist treatment as well as tertiary health care for those needing hospitalization. Ministry of Health and Family welfare launched this scheme in 2018.

Month: Current Affairs - November, 2021