In a remarkable achievement, over 10 lakh senior citizens aged 70 and above have registered for the newly launched Ayushman Vay Vandana Card within three weeks of its rollout by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 29, 2024. This initiative, under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), aims to provide free healthcare benefits to the elderly, addressing their specific medical needs.

Notably, women have embraced this program with enthusiasm, accounting for nearly 4 lakh of the total enrolments.

The Ayushman Vay Vandana Card has already authorized treatments worth over ₹9 crore, benefiting more than 4,800 seniors, including over 1,400 women. These medical interventions have addressed a variety of health concerns, such as coronary angioplasty, hip fractures and replacements, gallbladder removal, cataract surgeries, prostate resections, and stroke treatments.

This milestone underscores the program’s potential to improve the quality of life for India’s elderly population by offering access to critical healthcare services. The initiative not only reflects the government’s commitment to senior citizens but also highlights the increasing focus on gender inclusivity in healthcare access.

With such a promising start, the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card is poised to become a cornerstone of India’s healthcare framework for senior citizens.