India paid ₹1,80,435cr for free treatments under AB-PMJAY

India has massively transformed its public health infrastructure in the past 12 years. It is now more accessible, affordable, and quality-driven. The impact is deeply visible even at the grassroots levels.

National Statistical Office 2025 survey of over 1.39 lakh households showcases more Indians than ever before are seeking medical care. Those visiting government hospitals and clinics for outpatient care — consultation, diagnosis, tests, prescription — are not having to pay anything. About half of the hospitalised patients are paying below Rs. 1,100 for their care. The poorest of households are benefitting from low or no out-of-pocket healthcare costs at such facilities. These are signs that people have renewed trust in the public healthcare system.

This did not happen by chance. Increased government spending and systematic healthcare upgrades have driven India’s progress towards universal health coverage. From insurance schemes to expansion of healthcare infrastructure, India has systematically rebuilt its public health foundations over past 12 years.

The National Health Mission, with its myriad disease control and care programmes, is making healthcare delivery more targeted. A new and robust digital health infrastructure, along with budding artificial intelligence integrations, is taking healthcare delivery to the next level. To meet rising demand, the government has more than doubled its capacity to train doctors and nurses the system needs. At the centre of these changes is the world’s most ambitious universal health coverage programme – the Ayushman Bharat scheme, launched in 2018.

Ayushman Bharat: Universal health coverage for every citizen
Ayushman Bharat — meaning Long Life India — provides affordable, quality healthcare to people from all walks and all stages of life. It has emerged as a critical lifeline for socio-economically weaker sections and senior citizens above 70 years. The Ayushman Bharat architecture rests on four key pillars that collectively strengthen preventive, promotive, curative, and digital healthcare systems across the country.

Pillar 1: Public health insurance through Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)
In continuation of the National Health Mission, the government introduced the National Health Policy (NHP), 2017. It outlines a transformative vision for India’s healthcare system. The policy recognised emerging healthcare challenges, including the rise of non-communicable diseases and escalating treatment costs. To tackle these issues, the government in 2018 launched Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). It has now emerged as the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme.

AB-PMJAY provides free public health insurance up to Rs. 5 lakh per family per year to socio-economically deprived families. Such families make up about 40 per cent of the population, or about 12 crore families. The insurance saves these families from catastrophic healthcare bills.

In a landmark expansion of the scheme in October 2024, the government introduced the Ayushman Bharat Vay Vandana, extending the insurance coverage to all senior citizens above 70 years.

The insurance covers consultations, hospitalisations and specialised treatment for a wide range of conditions, including cancer and heart diseases.

Empanelled public and private hospitals offer this insurance scheme. About 40,000 claims are processed daily for more than 1,900 treatment packages.

AB-PMJAY is available across the country, and has become a cornerstone of healthcare equity for lower-income people and senior citizens:

• 44.14 crore Ayushman Cards were created
• 12.03 crore hospitalisations were covered
• Treatment worth Rs. 1,80,435 crore was provided
• 36,218 hospitals were empanelled — 19,659 public and 16,559 private
• 1.20 crore senior citizens were enrolled under the Ayushman Bharat Vay Vandana scheme, who availed over 13.84 lakh treatments worth Rs. 3,000 crore (as on June 5, 2026)

Ayushman app
One-stop hub for PM-JAY beneficiaries – Available on both Android and iOS in 19 regional languages. Beneficiaries can:

• Verify eligibility
• Download Ayushman e-cards
• Monitor wallet balances
• Locate empanelled hospitals
• Raise grievances

MB Bureau