NEW DELHI: Hailing eight years of Ayushman Bharat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the flagship healthcare programme has benefitted the “poor and the middle class.”
Posting on X, PM highlighted that more than 60 crore beneficiaries have access to Rs. 5 lakh annual health cover.
“Eight years ago, Ayushman Bharat was rolled out with the idea that every Indian should have access to top-quality and affordable healthcare. Today, more than 60 crore beneficiaries have access to Rs. 5 lakh annual health cover, making it the largest healthcare scheme in the world,” he said.
“It has enabled record savings on medical expenses, thus benefiting the poor and middle class. And healthcare is moving closer to every doorstep. Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have already recorded over 500 crore visits, strengthening primary healthcare at the grassroots. My best wishes to all Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries,” he posted.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda in a long post in X highlighted that over 60 crore people have been covered under the scheme, while over 48.54 crore Ayushman Cards have been created so far.
He said over 13 crore people have availed free treatment.
While over Rs 2 lakh crore worth of hospitalisation and treatment has been availed, over 39,000 public and private hospitals are empanelled across the country under the scheme, he added.
“As the nation marks 8 years of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme continues to expand access to quality, cashless healthcare for millions across the country,” he said.
“From expanding healthcare access to reducing financial barriers to treatment, Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY stands as a landmark of India’s commitment to ensuring affordable and accessible healthcare for all,” he said.
“What began 8 years ago as the Sankalp for Seva of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji has transformed healthcare access for millions, with Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY - the world’s largest Health Assurance Scheme - now covering more than half a billion people across the country,” he added.
He said the scheme is turning the promise of quality healthcare and financial protection into a reality for families across India.
“But the significance of these numbers goes far beyond statistics. Behind every number is a story - a family protected from the burden of medical debt, a patient receiving timely treatment, a loved one relieved of pain, and a household able to face illness without the fear of financial hardship,” Nadda added.
The minister said that hearing directly from beneficiaries and witnessing their experiences is a powerful reminder of the impact of this historic journey of seva.
“Guided by the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, we remain steadfast in our commitment to strengthen an accessible, affordable and inclusive healthcare system, ensuring that every citizen can access quality healthcare with dignity and without financial hardship,” he added.
“More than half a billion lives covered. Millions of stories of hope. One unwavering Sankalp — Seva and Health for All,” he posted.
AB-PMJAY, which was launched in 2018, provides coverage of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation to over 500 million beneficiaries - the bottom 40% of the population.
The scheme was later extended to more than 37 lakh Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers and their families, a workforce predominantly comprising women. Its coverage was also extended to senior citizens aged 70 years and above.
