As the government's ambitious Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme completes one year, PM Narendra Modi on Tuesday said efforts are on to make it foolproof and bring about improvements to serve the people better.

PM Modi along with the Union Health Minister, Dr Harshvardhan, addressed a gathering at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The event that marked the first anniversary of Ayushman Bharat was organised under the banner of "Saal Ek Ayushmaan Anek." PM added that due to demand arising out of the scheme, in the next five-seven years, 11 lakh new jobs will be created.

With the anniversary falling on the fourth day of Navratri, Dr Harshvardhan extended his gratification to Maa Durga, and also Narendra Modi for "his vision that helped us" in gaining the heights. He saluted the PM for his many ambitious schemes like Ayushman Bharat, Jan Dhan Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, Mudra Yojana, Startup India, IBC etc that helped India is progressing.

Coming to the achievements of the scheme, the Prime minister said it is a matter of great satisfaction that the poor do not have to mortgage their land or ornaments for getting treatment as they are getting assistance under the scheme.

Efforts are on to make Ayushman Bharat foolproof and bring about improvements in the scheme, he said. As the demand is increasing in small cities, the modern medical infrastructure network is increasing, Modi said.

He also added that India's healthcare system will be an example for the world describing Ayushman Bharat as one of the several revolutionary steps taken by 'new India'. According to him, the scheme's biggest achievement is that 46 lakh people have been pulled out of the "darkness of disease".

To make Ayushma Bharat even more people-friendly, a mobile app has been launched to help the beneficiaries. The application will help in raising awareness about the scheme. 

During his speech, Modi also informed about the PM-JAY Start-up Challenge which will give opportunities to entrepreneurs to further innovate in healthcare. In the coming time, many new hospitals will be set up and employment opportunities will increase, he said. 

Earlier, the prime minister also interacted with select beneficiaries of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) and launched Post Ticket of INR 5 value in accordance to Ayushman Bharat.