Ziraat Times News Desk
New Delhi: India’s flagship health protection scheme, Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), has emerged as the world’s largest public healthcare programme, providing annual health insurance coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per eligible household.
Launched on September 23, 2018, the scheme marks seven years of operations this year, bringing affordable healthcare to more than 12 crore vulnerable families across the country. According to data available up to October 28, 2025, over 42 crore Ayushman cards have been issued, including 86 lakh senior citizens enrolled under the initiative.
AB-PMJAY is a key component of the broader Ayushman Bharat initiative, which envisions achieving universal health coverage by ensuring access to affordable and quality healthcare for all. The programme operates under the principle of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas”, ensuring that no individual is left behind in the journey toward a healthier, more productive India.
The scheme is fully funded by the Government of India in collaboration with state and union territory administrations. It provides cashless secondary and tertiary care through over 33,000 empanelled hospitals, including 17,685 government and 15,380 private hospitals.
Since its inception, AB-PMJAY has saved Indian families an estimated ₹1.52 lakh crore in out-of-pocket medical expenses, as per the Economic Survey 2024–25.
Under the scheme, lakhs of beneficiaries have availed treatments in diverse specialities, including general medicine, cardiology, oncology, orthopaedics, obstetrics, gynaecology, and surgery. As of October 2025, treatments worth several thousand crore rupees have been delivered across these disciplines, ensuring critical medical support to millions of low-income families.
The government’s allocation for AB-PMJAY has consistently increased, with a budget estimate of ₹9,406 crore for FY 2025–26, up from ₹7,500 crore in FY 2024–25 and ₹6,556 crore in FY 2019–20.
Beyond health insurance, Ayushman Bharat encompasses three additional components that strengthen the nation’s healthcare ecosystem:
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Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAM):
These upgraded primary and sub-health centres ensure healthcare services closer to people’s homes. They provide free essential drugs, diagnostics, teleconsultations, and treatment for both communicable and non-communicable diseases.
Over 39.61 crore teleconsultations have been conducted through AAMs as of September 2025. -
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM):
The digital backbone of the health system, ABDM links healthcare facilities and professionals through digital health IDs known as Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA).
As of August 2025, more than 79.9 crore ABHA accounts have been created, and 4.18 lakh health facilities have been registered on the Health Facility Registry. -
PM–Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM):
Launched in October 2021, PM-ABHIM focuses on bridging infrastructure gaps across the healthcare system, from rural clinics to district hospitals. With an outlay of ₹64,180 crore (2021–26), the mission aims to strengthen India’s preparedness against future pandemics by improving disease surveillance and health research.