Ayushman Bharat: India’s Bold Healthcare Revolution Is Transforming Lives

Launched in 2018, Ayushman Bharat–PMJAY has grown into the world’s largest public healthcare programme, offering free treatment worth up to ₹5 lakh (USD 6,000) per family annually. Covering 500 million people through 33,000 hospitals, it has helped save ₹1.52 lakh crore (USD 182 billion). Supported by digital health IDs and 160,000 Arogya Mandirs, the initiative blends technology, insurance, and infrastructure to make healthcare affordable, accessible, and equitable across India.

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) on September 23, 2018, few foresaw that it would evolve into the world’s largest publicly funded healthcare programme. Seven years later, the scheme has become a cornerstone of India’s inclusive health policy—offering cashless medical treatment of up to ₹5 lakh per family each year (about USD 6,000) across a vast network of government and private hospitals.

A Vision of Affordable Care for All

The core principle driving Ayushman Bharat is simple yet transformative: no household should face financial ruin due to medical expenses. This promise has translated into concrete results, dramatically reducing out-of-pocket costs while extending medical access to families in even the most remote corners of the country.

420 Million Beneficiaries, Billions Saved

According to government data released in October 2025, over 420 million Ayushman cards have been distributed since the scheme began. These cards act as passports to affordable healthcare across 33,000 empanelled hospitals—split almost evenly between public (17,685) and private (15,380) facilities.

The Economic Survey 2024–25 reports that the programme has saved Indian households more than ₹1.52 lakh crore (approx. USD 182 billion) in medical costs. Among the beneficiaries are 8.6 million senior citizens, ensuring the elderly receive timely treatment without financial distress.

Covering Half a Billion People

AB-PMJAY today serves 120 million economically weaker families, roughly covering 500 million individuals—a scale unmatched by any other public insurance system. It provides free access to secondary and tertiary treatments, including cardiac surgeries, oncology care, maternity services, and neonatal support.

By including private hospitals in its panel, the government has effectively built a public–private partnership that bridges service gaps and enhances care quality nationwide.

Four Pillars of the Ayushman Bharat Mission

Ayushman Bharat isn’t just one scheme—it’s a three-tier health mission encompassing prevention, treatment, and infrastructure. Its four foundational components together form the backbone of India’s healthcare transformation:

1. Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY):

Provides insurance-based financial protection against medical costs for vulnerable families.

2. Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAM):

Formerly known as Health and Wellness Centres, these facilities deliver primary healthcare across rural and urban India. As of September 2025, over 160,000 centres are active, offering services in chronic disease management, maternal care, eye and dental services, mental health, and palliative care.So far, they have facilitated 390 million teleconsultations, connecting patients in rural India with urban specialists through digital platforms.

3. Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM):

This ambitious initiative is creating a national digital health ecosystem using the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA)—a unique digital ID for every citizen.To date, 800 million ABHA IDs have been generated, linking 67 million health records, enabling seamless data exchange, and ensuring continuity of care between hospitals and patients.

4. PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM):

Launched in October 2021, PM-ABHIM focuses on strengthening hospitals, labs, disease surveillance, and research facilities. With an investment of ₹64,180 crore (around USD 7.7 billion) between 2021 and 2026, it earmarks ₹54,205 crore for state-level programmes and ₹9,340 crore for central projects—bolstering India’s preparedness for future health emergencies.

Shared Responsibility Between Centre and States

The success of Ayushman Bharat rests on strong Centre–State coordination. The Union Budget 2025–26 allocated ₹9,406 crore (USD 1.1 billion) to AB-PMJAY—its highest-ever funding. Between 2022–23 and 2024–25, states and Union Territories collectively added over ₹5,000 crore (USD 600 million) to expand and upgrade Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.

While the Union government defines policy and funding, state governments tailor execution to local needs—balancing consistency in standards with contextual flexibility.

The Digital Leap in Healthcare

The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission signals a transformative era in India’s healthcare governance. By merging technology and medicine, it fosters transparency, accountability, and efficiency.Patients can now access and share their health records securely, reducing paperwork while paving the way for innovations in AI-driven diagnostics, telemedicine, and data-based public health planning. This digital push positions India at the frontier of global healthcare technology.

Lives Transformed, One Card at a Time

Behind these impressive statistics lie countless stories of hope.Take Sita Bai from Madhya Pradesh, who underwent a gallbladder operation at a private hospital—free of cost—under Ayushman Bharat. “We never dreamed of affording such treatment. Ayushman saved my life,” she says.Such testimonies capture the human essence of the programme: healthcare as a right, not a privilege.

Challenges and the Road Ahead

Despite its achievements, the scheme still faces hurdles—such as limited awareness among rural populations, occasional payment delays, and cases of fraudulent claims. To address this, the government has launched Ayushman Melas and Jan Arogya Campaigns to promote card registration and scheme literacy. Strengthened audits and digital claim-tracking mechanisms are being rolled out to minimize misuse.

A Global Beacon of Inclusive Healthcare

As Ayushman Bharat enters its eighth year, it stands as more than a welfare programme—it is a model of health equity that aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal 3: ensuring healthy lives for all.

From Ayushman cards to digital health IDs, from grassroots Arogya Mandirs to AI-enabled hospitals, the initiative unites affordability, accessibility, and accountability under one seamless framework.

India’s healthcare revolution through Ayushman Bharat doesn’t just heal—it empowers.