Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana Completes Seven Years, Revolutionizing Healthcare in India.

Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), the world’s largest government-funded health assurance scheme, recently completed seven years since its launch in September 2018 from Ranchi. The scheme has revolutionized healthcare in India, benefiting over 55 crore individuals and strengthening universal health coverage.

      - PMJAY provides ₹5 lakh annual health cover per family, enabling cashless and paperless treatment nationwide. The scheme currently covers 12 crore families, including ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers, anganwadi workers, senior citizens above 70 years, and nearly one crore gig and platform workers.

      - Over 10.30 crore hospital admissions have been authorized under PMJAY, translating into more than ₹1.48 lakh crore worth of cashless care, significantly reducing out-of-pocket expenses for patients across India.

      - The beneficiary base was expanded in 2022 to cover 12 crore families. In 2024, ASHA workers, anganwadi workers, and their families were included. From October 2024, senior citizens above 70 years were brought under universal coverage through the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card.

Main Point :-   (i) More than 1.8 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (hospitals) are operational across India, providing safe, reliable, and dignified medical services, enhancing access to healthcare for millions of citizens.

      (ii) Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that Ayushman Bharat has triggered a revolution in public healthcare, ensuring financial protection, dignity, and universal health coverage. He emphasized the role of scale, compassion, and technology in empowering citizens.

(iii) Sharing an article by Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, Mr Modi highlighted how PMJAY has transformed into a people’s movement for universal health coverage, standing as a testament to the government’s commitment to providing top-quality, affordable healthcare and protecting every citizen’s health.