The Union Government has introduced a significant expansion of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), which now extends health coverage to all citizens aged 70 and above. This monumental decision will provide much-needed relief to an additional 6 crore senior citizens from 4.5 crore families across India.

Under the new provisions, individuals in this age group, irrespective of income or socio-economic status, will receive a health insurance cover of ₹5 lakh per family, aimed at easing the financial burden of healthcare expenses.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while chairing the Union Cabinet meeting, emphasized the significance of this expansion, stating that it is a step towards ensuring accessible and affordable healthcare for India's ageing population. "We are committed to ensuring top-quality healthcare for every Indian," the Prime Minister posted on X (formerly Twitter).

The scheme, which previously provided health cover to the bottom 40% of India's population based on income criteria, now guarantees health coverage for all senior citizens above 70, including those already benefiting from other government insurance schemes such as the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) and Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS).

Those enrolled in private health insurance policies or the Employees' State Insurance Scheme (ESI) are also eligible for AB PM-JAY, offering a more inclusive approach to elderly healthcare.

Key Features of the Expanded AB PM-JAY Scheme

The Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, which is already the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme, will now reach an even broader population. With this expansion, each senior citizen aged 70 and above will be issued a distinct health card, ensuring they can easily access the benefits without any financial constraints. Some of the key highlights include:

• Universal Coverage for Seniors: Every senior citizen aged 70 and above, regardless of income or social standing, will receive ₹5 lakh health coverage.
• Top-Up Cover: For families already enrolled under AB PM-JAY, senior members will get an additional top-up cover of ₹5 lakh annually, which is exclusively for their use. This means they will not have to share the coverage with other family members under 70 years of age.
• Flexibility with Existing Schemes: Individuals already covered under public health schemes like CGHS, ECHS, or Ayushman CAPF can either continue with their current insurance or opt for AB PM-JAY, offering flexibility and choice.
• Inclusive of Private Insurance Holders: Even senior citizens with private health insurance will be eligible for this scheme, providing them with dual protection if they choose to avail of both options.

Financial Implications and State Contributions

The initial cost to roll out this expanded health coverage is estimated at ₹3,437 crore. State governments will bear 40% of the expenses, while the Central Government will contribute the remaining 60%. However, for hilly and northeastern states, the Centre will fund 90% of the costs, ensuring that these regions, often with lower healthcare access, are adequately supported.

As the scheme unfolds, experts anticipate that the demand for senior citizen enrolment will rise, potentially increasing the overall cost of the program. This is because healthcare for elderly individuals typically incurs higher expenses due to the increased risk of chronic diseases and medical needs associated with ageing.

India's senior population is set to rise significantly in the coming decades. According to the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI), the percentage of individuals aged 60 and above is projected to increase from 8.6% in 2011 to 19.5% by 2050. This means that the population of senior citizens will triple from 103 million in 2011 to 319 million by 2050.

The expansion of AB PM-JAY is a timely intervention to cater to this demographic shift, ensuring that elderly citizens are not left vulnerable to escalating healthcare costs.

As families in India transition to more nuclear structures, the financial burden on elderly members can become increasingly difficult to manage. This expansion of the AB PM-JAY scheme offers crucial social security, particularly for senior citizens who may not have the same level of familial or financial support.

With a dedicated top-up for senior citizens, the scheme ensures they receive the medical attention they need without sharing resources with younger family members.

By lifting income-based restrictions, the government is broadening the scope of its health policies, allowing more people to benefit from the scheme. The inclusion of senior citizens from all socio-economic backgrounds reinforces the government’s commitment to universal healthcare and offers peace of mind to millions of elderly Indians.

Furthermore, the move aligns with the government's vision of a more inclusive healthcare system, addressing the unique needs of India’s growing elderly population.

A 61-year-old man in New York died after being pulled into an MRI machine by the heavy weight-training metal chain around his neck. It is still not clear if he had entered the scanning room to check on a relative or for his own scan when the powerful magnetic force dragged him toward the machine. The incident took place at Nassau Open MRI in Long Island while a scan was underway, according to NBC New York. Despite efforts to save him, he suffered a medical emergency and died the next day in hospital.

Here is why that happened and what everyone needs to know about MRI safety, especially when it comes to metal.

The magnetic pull

MRI machines run on ultra‑strong magnetic fields that are always on. They do not get switched off when no one is using them. Even the tiniest metal item, say, a coin, a belt buckle, or a smear of glittery eyeliner, can turn into a flying hazard. Hospitals train staff relentlessly to treat these rooms like a high-voltage zone.

The machine’s pull is so strong it can lift heavy objects and sling them across the room. There are reports of chains turning into projectiles and oxygen tanks being ripped from hands.

What went wrong this time

The man, reportedly, was not the patient. He was accompanying someone who was. But when he heard a scream from inside the scan room, he rushed in wearing a large metal chain. Despite staff shouting at him to stop, he entered the magnet zone.

Within seconds, the necklace was yanked toward the machine’s core. He was dragged with it and suffered serious trauma. Officially, it is being called a “medical episode”, but doctors suspect things like strangulation or spinal injuries. He died the following day in hospital.

Why MRI safety rules are not optional

When a hospital tells you to remove all metal, including rings, watches, piercings, underwired bras, belts or coins, they mean it. All of it. And it is not just about what you can see. Things inside your body, like surgical implants, pacemakers, pins, plates, cochlear devices, and even tattoos with metallic ink, matter too. These are not suggestions. They are hard rules, born from experience. It only takes one forgotten item to trigger disaster.

What not to wear or carry into an MRI room

• Necklaces, earrings, body jewellery
• Hairpins, clips, even mascara or eyeliner with shimmer
• Metal fasteners or zips in clothes
• Phones, keys, coins, wallets
• Hearing aids, removable dental gear
• Any implanted device or medical hardware
• Even makeup can be risky. Some brands use metallic particles for shine, which the scanner does not take kindly to.

Before an MRI, staff will ask you questions: “Any implants?” “Any metal in your body?” “Do you wear a hearing aid?” It might seem repetitive, but there is a reason behind it.

Patients who hide piercings, forget body modifications, or downplay surgical histories are not just risking their scan; they are risking their life. The machine’s magnetic field can interfere with implants, pull on metal fragments, or heat up tattoo ink.

Before you go near the scanner, make sure to:

• Strip off all metal
• Leave electronics outside
• Be upfront about medical history
• Ask questions if unsure
• And if you are not the patient, stay behind the line
• Even something as small as walking into the room at the wrong moment can have consequences.

Bolivia is in the middle of a public health emergency. Measles—once thought to be close to eradication in many parts of the world—has returned, with 60 confirmed cases sparking alarm across the country. In response, India dispatched 300,000 doses of the combined Measles and Rubella (MR) vaccine, providing a much-needed boost to Bolivia's immunization drive.

This timely shipment comes as the South American country scrambles to contain the outbreak. The Bolivian government has declared a National Health Emergency, activated emergency protocols, and called on local governments and global partners to ramp up vaccination efforts.

Measles is often underestimated, especially in countries where immunization coverage is high. But here’s the reality: measles is one of the most contagious viruses known to humans. It can cause severe complications—pneumonia, encephalitis, and even death—especially in children under five or those with malnutrition.

Bolivia's Health Minister Maria Renee Castro made it clear: the outbreak could spiral if parents don’t act. “It is essential that parents get their children vaccinated,” she said. Though the country has half a million doses in stock, coverage is falling short. And that’s the bigger issue.

What Triggered The Measles Outbreak In Bolivia?

The current crisis didn’t appear overnight. Like many countries, Bolivia experienced disruptions in routine vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Combined with misinformation, vaccine hesitancy, and uneven access to healthcare in remote areas, immunization rates dropped to dangerously low levels.

This created fertile ground for the measles virus to resurface. Unlike other diseases that require direct contact, measles is airborne and can linger in the air for hours. Just one infected person can spread it to up to 18 others in an unvaccinated population.

India’s shipment of vaccines is part of a larger diplomatic and public health strategy. Known as the pharmacy of the Global South, India has been supplying vaccines and essential medicines to dozens of countries for decades. During the COVID-19 crisis, its Vaccine Maitri initiative helped over 90 nations.

In Bolivia’s case, the consignment not only supports outbreak response—it also reflects India’s growing role as a global health partner. By responding quickly and decisively, India is showing that vaccine diplomacy can fill the void where traditional global mechanisms may be slower to act.

Bolivia’s response plan now hinges on mass immunization campaigns—especially for children under five. President Luis Arce Catacora urged citizens to fully cooperate with health authorities. “Our duty is clear: to protect our children and the population from a threat that has already raised health alerts across the continent,” he said.

These campaigns will be coordinated across local and regional levels, supported by international organizations and bilateral partners like India. The goal is twofold: contain the outbreak quickly and restore public trust in routine immunizations.

What’s happening in Bolivia is a warning to the rest of the world. The measles virus doesn’t respect borders, and as global travel resumes, so does the risk of transmission. According to the World Health Organization, measles cases and deaths globally rose by 43% in 2022 alone. If global immunization coverage falls below 95%—especially for the two-dose measles vaccine—outbreaks are inevitable.

From Vaccine Access to Outbreak Prevention: The Missing Link

Here’s what this crisis teaches us: access to vaccines alone isn't enough. Countries need resilient health systems that can deliver these vaccines consistently, even in remote areas and during disruptions like a pandemic or natural disaster.

What this really means is that vaccine availability, while crucial, must be paired with last-mile delivery, consistent public messaging, and community trust. Otherwise, even the best stockpile can’t stop a virus that spreads faster than the news of its arrival.

The resurgence of measles in Bolivia isn’t just a regional emergency—it’s a global red flag. If countries let their guard down, diseases that were nearly eliminated will come roaring back. India’s support to Bolivia is a timely reminder that in public health, preparedness is not a choice, it’s a necessity.

Measles is preventable. The vaccine works. The challenge is ensuring it's not just produced and delivered—but also accepted, administered, and trusted. That’s the path to not just containing outbreaks—but ending them for good.

Just as British summer hits full swing, the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) has dropped a warning: slushies may not be so child-friendly after all. In an urgent new advisory, the FSA has warned parents to steer clear of giving slush ice drinks to children under seven, especially those containing a chemical called glycerol. And for kids between seven and ten? Keep it to a strict 350 ml a day.

What’s So Dangerous About a Slushie?

Slushies may seem like they beat the heat, but beneath that colour lies a syrupy science experiment. Most commercial slush drinks get their signature texture from glycerol, a compound that keeps ice from freezing into one giant block and gives slushies their semi-liquid, chewable charm. The trouble is, glycerol is harmful when consumed in large quantities, especially by small bodies.

According to the FSA, excessive intake of glycerol in a short span can cause mild symptoms like nausea, headaches and vomiting. But in more severe cases, children can suffer from dangerously low blood sugar, go into shock, or even lose consciousness.

The Risks Are Real and Rising

This warning did not come out of nowhere. The FSA has seen a surge in reports of children collapsing after drinking slushies. In many of these cases, the affected kids had consumed slush drinks in large amounts over a short period.

Summer’s New Parenting Rule

The FSA is urging parents and carers to be vigilant. Before buying a slushie, they recommend asking vendors whether the drink contains glycerol. If you are not sure, play it safe, especially with younger kids. Parents should also keep an eye on home-use slush kits and ready-to-drink slush pouches, which may also include this ingredient.

The shops have now also been instructed to stop offering free slushie refills for children under 10 and to use the minimal amount of glycerol necessary to get that slushy texture.

What to Do If a Slushie Turns Sour

If your child starts feeling queasy or dizzy after downing a slushie, do not panic, but do act. In mild cases, giving them a sugary snack or drink can help stabilise blood sugar levels. But if your child seems lethargic, confused, or unresponsive, call 999 immediately. It is better to be overly cautious than to risk a serious health episode.

Slushie Season, But Make It Safer

This new advice arrives just ahead of the school summer holidays, the peak slushie season in the UK. As temperatures soar, these icy drinks will be everywhere. The message from the FSA is clear: slushies are not forbidden, but they are not harmless either. Especially when they are packed with glycerol and served up to tiny tummies.