Dainik Nation News Portal
DAINIK NATION BUREAU/DEHRADUN
In a bid to ensure healthcare accessibility for the underprivileged, Uttarakhand’s Health Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat has urged affluent and financially capable citizens of the state to voluntarily give up the benefits of the Ayushman Bharat scheme. He stated that by stepping aside from the scheme, elite citizens can help ensure better medical coverage for those who genuinely need government-supported healthcare.
Dr. Rawat has instructed all Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) across the state to hold meetings with members of the elite class in their respective districts to discuss this initiative. The minister emphasized that while the Ayushman Yojana aims to provide quality medical care to all, there are several families in the state who are financially well-off and can afford treatment in top-tier private hospitals without government aid.
“There are thousands of well-to-do families in Uttarakhand who do not depend on government assistance for healthcare. If such people voluntarily withdraw from the Ayushman Yojana, it will reduce the financial burden on the state and allow those in real need to receive better, uninterrupted treatment,” said Dr. Rawat.
The Health Minister clarified that this would be a completely voluntary step and no one will be forced to relinquish their cards. However, he expressed hope that those who are economically strong will consider giving up their Ayushman cards in the spirit of social responsibility.
This move, if adopted widely, could potentially create more room within the scheme’s budget to empanel additional hospitals, improve treatment packages, and expand services to remote areas — thereby advancing the state’s goal of inclusive and sustainable healthcare for all.
