Prime Minister Narendra Modi today urged people to buy medicines at affordable costs from the government’s Jan Aushadhi Kendras and save money. Addressing ‘Jan Aushadhi Diwas’ celebrations through video-conference, PM Modi dedicated to the nation the 7500th Jan Aushadhi Kendra at North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) in Meghalaya’s capital Shillong. He said, “Medicines are expensive, that’s why we’ve PM ‘Jan Aushadhi’ yojana for the poor to buy medicines at affordable cost from ‘Modi ki Dukaan’ (as people like to call it).”
Interacting with the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, PM Modi requested them to adopt a healthy lifestyle and spread the word about the benefits of Jan Aushadhi. He said, “you are my family and your ailment is the ailment of my family members, that is why I want all my countrymen to stay healthy.”
‘Families save Rs 3600 crore every year on expensive medicines’
Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister noted that the Janaushadhi Yojana is becoming a big friend of poor and middle-class families, who are saving about Rs 3600 crore every year on expensive medicines. It is also becoming the medium of both service and employment. He said that the scheme is promoting Aatamnirbharta among women as more than 1000 centers are being run by women.
The scheme is providing affordable medicines to people in hilly areas, Northeast and tribal areas. PM Modi said that the dedication of the 7500th center is important as there were not even 100 centers in India six years ago. He asked to achieve the target of 10000 centers.
The Prime Minister remarked that in order to promote the scheme, the incentive has been enhanced from 2.5 lakh to 5 lakh with an additional incentive of 2 lakh for Dalit, Adivasi women and people of the Northeast.
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‘Free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh for over 50 crore poor families’
The Prime Minister said Ayushman Yojana has ensured free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh, for the country’s more than 50 crore poor families. So far more than 1.5 crore people have taken advantage of it and saved about Rs 30000 crore.
The Prime Minister noted that the demand for India-made medicines and surgery has increased. Production is also increasing to keep up with the increasing demand. He said that now 75 AYUSH medicines are also available in Jan Aushadhi centers.
The Prime Minister recounted the government’s efforts to improve medical setup in the last six years. He informed that in the last 6 years more than 30 thousand seats have been added to 55 thousand MBBS seats that existed in 2014.
Similarly, there were 30 thousand PG seats, to which, 24 thousand new seats have been added. 180 new medical colleges have been established in the last six years. 1.5 lakh Health and Wellness centers have been established in villages, 50 thousand of which have already started functioning. Every district has provided diagnostic centers and more than 600 critical care hospitals have been established. Work is on for establishing one medical center in three Lok Sabha constituencies.
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The Prime Minister lauded the scientist for the Made in India Corona vaccine and said, today India has vaccines not only for local use but also for helping the world. He stressed that the Government specially kept the interest of the poor and middle class in mind for vaccination. The vaccination is free in government hospitals and private hospitals are charging just Rs 250 which is the lowest in the world.
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