PM Modi contributed more than half of WHO's global target to give healthcare coverage: Nadda

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has contributed more than half of the WHO's global target to give healthcare coverage by bringing 55 crore people under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, BJP president J P Nadda said on Saturday.

Nadda, a former Union health minister, also said the government aims to open 1.5 lakh health and wellness centres across the country.

"The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it will bring 100 crore people under healthcare coverage. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already given that to 55 crore people through the Ayushman Bharat Scheme," he said.

"It means Modi ji has contributed to over 50 per cent of the world's agenda single-handedly here in India," Nadda said on the occasion of Jan Aushadhi Diwas.

The BJP chief said 55 crore people have been given health coverage of Rs 5 lakh each under the scheme.

On the occasion, the prime minister interacted with some Jan Aushadhi Kendra owners and Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojna (PMBJP) beneficiaries through a video conferencing session, which was attended by Nadda at Krishna Nagar.

"In nearly 700 districts, through 6,700 Jan Aushadhi outlets , medicines worth around Rs 2,200 crore were provided to people at a cost of just Rs 390 crore, in 2019-20," Nadda said