Chhattisgarh starts pilot run of Ayushman Bharat across 1,033 hospitals

Smart cards are ready, distribution will start once Centre gives its nod; state aims to cover 4 mn families already availing state-run Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana

The pilot run of the Modi government’s ambitious health insurance scheme for all---Ayushman Bharat---has started in Chhattisgarh.

The national health protection scheme was launched in Chhattisgarh’s restive Bijapur district this April by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The scheme, which will finally roll out on September 25 across India, will cover 107.4 million poor and vulnerable families.

“The pilot run of the scheme started in 1,033 hospitals across the state,” Chhattisgarh’s health commissioner R Prasanna said. Of the hospitals selected, 608 are public and 425 are private, he added.

The state, on its part, had made all necessary preparations for the successful execution of