Shimla, Sep 23 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and Governor Acharya Devvrat here on Sunday jointly launched the 'Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana' in the state.
The scheme was launched at the national level by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ranchi in Jharkhand.
The Himachal Governor said the scheme showcased the Prime Minister's concern for the poor.
He urged the people not to depend on free medicines and other facilities. "We should understand that by maintaining a healthy life through yoga and taking healthy food, medication is not needed."
Earlier, the Governor interacted through videoconferencing with the Deputy Commissioner of Kinnaur who launched the scheme in the district and urged him to direct health officials to mobilise the people, mainly in remote areas, about the scheme.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Thakur said the scheme will benefit 22 lakh people in the hill state. A total of 175 hospitals in Himachal have been registered under the scheme.
He said about 500,000 families have been covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme in the state.
The state is also implementing the Mukhiya Mantri State Healthcare Scheme, under which over 1.05 lakh families have been covered.
