Page 25 - NIS English 16-30 September, 2026

Ayushman Bharat | HEALTH

Key facts about AB-PMJAY…

n The Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan
Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) was launched
Ayushman cards issued… 23.91+ 23.35+ 3.55+ n This scheme has helped reduce healthcare
Total: 47.26+ crore
on September 23, 2018, from Jharkhand.

Women
Men
expenses for families by increasing
Others
government spending on health insurance.
Families saved over ₹1.25 lakh crore in
lakh
crore
crore
2024-25.
Number of Total n The budget estimate for AB-PMJAY for
patients 11.35+ 2026-27 has been increased to ₹9,500 crore,
admitted to crore which is ₹500 crore higher than that of the
hospitals… 2025-26 financial year.
n The scheme provides health insurance
coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family
5.46+ crore 5.28+ crore 23.68 crore n In March 2024, the scheme was expanded
per year for secondary and tertiary
hospitalisation treatment.

to include approximately 37 lakh families of
Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA),
Men Women Others
Anganwadi workers, and Anganwadi
helpers.
Registered hospitals…
n In October 2024, the scheme was further
expanded to cover 6 crore senior citizens
aged 70 years and above, belonging to 4.5
crore families, regardless of their socio-
economic status.
n According to the National Health Accounts

Total- 38,665 Estimates 2022-23, the share of out-of-
pocket health expenditure in total health
20,382 18,283 expenditure has declined from 62.6 percent
in 2014-15 to 43.4 percent in 2022-23.
Government Private

From the treatment of critical illnesses to advanced in major private and government hospitals without
surgeries, free treatment up to ₹5 lakh has given the spending a single penny. By including senior citizens
common citizen the right to live with dignity. Thanks over 70 years of age in this security net, the scheme
to the convergence of technology and transparency has set a new example of sensitivity. Ayushman
in thousands of private and government-empanelled Bharat has proven that when policy is rooted in
hospitals across the country, even people in villages public welfare with sincere intention, the right to
and towns are now receiving high-quality treatment healthcare can be ensured for every citizen. n

Sep 16-30, 2026 || NEW INDIA SAMACHAR 23