| Why in the News? | Launch of Ayushman Vay Vandana Card, enrolling over 10 lakh senior citizens aged 70 and above. |
| Occasion | Dhanvantari Jayanti and Ayurveda Day (October 29, 2024) |
| Event | Inauguration of health sector projects worth ₹12,850 crore by PM Modi at All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi. |
| Key Announcement | Introduction of Ayushman Vay Vandana Card for free hospital treatment of senior citizens aged 70+. |
| Eligibility for Vay Vandana Card | All senior citizens aged 70+, with no income cap (applicable to poor, middle-class, and upper-class individuals). |
| Benefits of Vay Vandana Card | - Free treatment in hospitals - Reduced out-of-pocket expenses for elderly care - Comprehensive healthcare under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY. |
| Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY Overview | - Launched on September 23, 2018 - World's largest health assurance scheme - ₹5 lakh annual coverage per family - Covers ~55 crore individuals. |
| Key PM-JAY Achievements | - 35.45 crore Ayushman Cards issued - 6.5 crore hospital admissions authorized - ₹81,979.07 crore value of authorized admissions - 30,745 empanelled hospitals (17,084 public, 13,661 private). |
| Progress of Vay Vandana Card | - 10 lakh enrollments in 3 weeks - 4 lakh female enrollments - ₹9 crore worth of treatments for over 4,800 senior citizens (1,400 women). |
| Common Treatments Covered | Coronary angioplasty, hip fractures/replacement, gallbladder removal, cataract surgery, prostate resection, stroke treatments. |
