A total of 27 lakh families comprising 1.4 crore residents in Assam will be covered under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), the universal health care coverage scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.

Minutes after Modi launched the scheme at Ranchi in Jharkhand, chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched the scheme here, assuring a large audience that it would provide “huge relief” to lakhs of economically disadvantaged sections in the state.

“This will be a big relief as people often either have to borrow money or sell valuables to bear treatment costs of their loved ones. This will remove the tension of managing treatment costs and the government will bear the same,” Sonowal said at the College of Veterinary Science playground here at Khanapara.

The government will bear treatment costs up to Rs 5 lakh against every card holder every year. The benefits will be available for treatment of at least 1,350 ailments in all government hospitals and private nursing homes.

This will be in addition to the similar health coverage of Rs 2 lakh availed of by the below poverty line families under the Atal Amrit Yojana.

Health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the health cards would delivered on the doorsteps of 27 lakh families by October 10.

“By October 15, the same facility will be available in all medical colleges and 120 nursing homes across the state. By November 1, all district government hospitals, first referral units and community health centres will be covered. The arogya mitras to be appointed under the scheme will not only help people get the benefit of the scheme but will buy medicines for the patients from outside if the same medicine is not available in the hospital. If a hospital lacks a particular diagnostic facility, the arogya mitras will do the same outside and the amount will be covered from their PMJAY card,” Sarma said, adding that the beneficiaries can use the card in other states as well.

Sarma said five beneficiaries had used their cards at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital and Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh on Sunday, when Modi was launching the project in Ranchi.

Sarma said 10,000 patients, of whom 5,000 are suffering from cancer in Assam, had availed of the benefit of the Atal Amrit Yojana since the scheme was launched in April 20.