8 Years of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY: India's Flagship Initiative Towards Universal Health Coverage
Ayushman Bharat–PM-JAY was launched in September 2018 from Ranchi with the aim of protecting vulnerable sections from the financial burden of medical treatment. Under the scheme, eligible families receive health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per year, along with cashless and paperless treatment at empanelled hospitals. The scheme encompasses over 60 crore people, with more than 48.54 crore Ayushman cards issued and over 38,000 hospitals empanelled. Primary healthcare services are being strengthened through 'Ayushman Arogya Mandirs,' and senior citizens aged 70 and above have also been brought under the scheme's ambit.
Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is the Government of India's flagship public health protection scheme. It was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September 2018 from Ranchi, Jharkhand. Its primary objective is to protect economically vulnerable families from the financial burden associated with expensive hospital treatments.
Health Cover of ₹5 Lakh:
Under PM-JAY, eligible beneficiary families are provided health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year. The scheme primarily covers secondary and tertiary care requiring hospitalization, offering beneficiaries the facility of cashless and paperless treatment at empanelled hospitals.
Extensive Reach of the Scheme:
The scheme has expanded significantly over the past eight years. According to available government data, over 60 crore people are covered, and more than 48.54 crore Ayushman cards have been issued. More than 38,000 government and private hospitals across the country are empanelled under the scheme, which has a presence in all 36 states and union territories.
Ayushman Arogya Mandir and Primary Healthcare:
Ayushman Bharat is not limited solely to hospital-based insurance. Ayushman Arogya Mandirs play a pivotal role in this comprehensive health-system approach, striving to strengthen primary healthcare services, disease prevention, screening, and the availability of health services at the community level. This fosters the promotion of preventive and primary healthcare in India.
Expanding Health Coverage for Senior Citizens:
In an expansion of the PM-JAY scope, provisions have been made to extend health coverage to senior citizens aged 70 years and above. Additionally, ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, and their families have been brought under the scheme's ambit. The overarching objective is to enhance access to healthcare services and reduce out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE).
Significance for UPSC:
This topic is crucial for GS Paper-II (Social Justice, Health & Welfare Schemes) and GS Paper-III (Inclusive Growth). For UPSC purposes, AB-PMJAY should be understood in the context of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), government expenditure on health, financial protection, public-private partnerships, primary healthcare, and regional disparities in health. Key facts for the exam include—Launch: 2018; Location: Ranchi; Health Cover: ₹5 lakh per family per year; Ayushman Arogya Mandir: Primary healthcare; and Objective: Financial protection coupled with access to quality healthcare services.
