World Cancer Day is celebrated every year on February 4 to raise awareness about cancer, and the Ayushman Bharat scheme, launched by the Narendra Modi-led Central government in 2018, is emerging as a transformative initiative in the fight against this disease.
The primary goal of celebrating World Cancer Day is to raise awareness about cancer and encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment at the earliest as a large number of people in the country and across the world and to reduce deaths that occur due to cancer.
Islam Ali, a resident of Uttar Pradesh’s Bhadohi, told the news agency: “My wife Afsari Begum has been undergoing treatment for cancer under the Ayushman Bharat scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Tata Hospital in Mumbai for the last six to seven months. My wife is undergoing chemotherapy and her health expenses are being paid with the help of an Ayushman Card.”
“With the help of Ayushman card, there is a lot of help getting health treatment. Till now my wife has undergone five chemotherapy treatments. All those health expenses have been incurred with the help of the Ayushman card,” he added.
The life of Anil Kumar Sharma, a resident of Ahmedabad in Gujarat, came to a standstill when he was diagnosed with throat cancer 18 months ago. All thanks to the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, now he is feeling about 50 per cent relief from his disease.
Anil Kumar Sharma said, “Initially my morale was down when I came to know about the disease, but under the Ayushman Yojana I was able to get timely treatment. Getting free treatment and essential medicines under the scheme has also relieved me of the financial burden that the disease brings. This scheme has given me a new hope.”
Alka Sharma, sister of Anil Kumar Sharma, told, “We had earlier gone to private hospitals, where the cost of treatment was very high and there was no special relief. Despite spending about Rs 3 lakh, we did not get any relief or concession.
“After this we got the card of the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Yojana made and then we got immediate financial relief. There was no difficulty in getting the Ayushman card made, and this card was activated soon. This card became an important part of the treatment and we started my brother’s chemotherapy from here. Now his fourth chemo has been done and he is feeling better.”
Radha Agarwal, a resident of Ahmedabad, was diagnosed with cancer in June 2024. Initially, this disease was detected at a private hospital, but after this she started getting treatment in a government hospital under the PM Ayushman Yojana, where she is getting better facilities.
Mahesh Chaurasia, a resident of Maharashtra’s Bhiwandi, told IANS: “My wife Poonam Chaurasia has been treated at the Tata Hospital in Mumbai for the last year with the help of Ayushman Card, from which our family is getting health benefits. My wife is suffering from breast cancer. I work in a private firm and am the only sole breadwinner in the family. My wife’s Ayushman card has already been made. Doctors say that my family will benefit from the Ayushman Bharat Yojana.”
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) is a national public health insurance scheme of the Indian government that was launched on September 23, 2018, that aims to provide free access to health insurance coverage for low-income earners in the country. The bottom 50 per cent of the country qualifies for this scheme. It was later expanded to include all senior citizens above 70 years, regardless of their economic status.
73-year-old Makhbooba Bano, a resident of Ahmedabad, has been getting treatment for stomach cancer under the PM Ayushman Yojana for the last five months.
Makhbooba Bano said that when she came to know about cancer, her family started treatment immediately and with the Ayushman card she is getting the benefit of high-quality treatment in a government hospital.
Siraj Mohammad Hanif Barfwala, a resident of Ahmedabad, successfully fought his battle with blood cancer with the help of the Ayushman card and now he is completely healthy.
Siraj Mohammad said that his condition became very serious when he was diagnosed with blood cancer, but after starting treatment under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Yojana, he got relief from the cost of treatment and now he is recovering.
The Ayushman Bharat Yojana, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 23, 2018, has emerged as a beacon of hope for countless families across India, enabling them to access free treatment for serious illnesses in both private and government hospitals. By reducing the financial burden of healthcare, the scheme ensures that even the poorest citizens can receive life-saving medical care. (IANS)
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