About Ayushman Bharat
- Launched: 2018
- Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS)
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW)
- Policy Basis: National Health Policy (NHP), 2017
- Objective: Achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through a continuum of care from primary to tertiary healthcare.
- SDG Linkages: Supports SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and contributes to universal access to quality healthcare.
Components of Ayushman Bharat
Ayushman Bharat comprises two complementary pillars that together strengthen India’s healthcare delivery system.
1. Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs)
- Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are upgraded Sub Health Centres (SHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) that provide Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) closer to communities.
- They offer a wide range of services, including preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative care, along with maternal and child healthcare and screening and management of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
2. Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY)
- AB PM-JAY is the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme, providing cashless and paperless health insurance coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalization.
- It covers pre-existing diseases from Day One and has no restriction on family size, age, or gender.
Eligibility
- Rural beneficiaries are identified based on the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC), 2011 deprivation criteria.
- Urban beneficiaries belong to 11 specified occupational categories such as ragpickers, domestic workers, street vendors, sanitation workers, cobblers, hawkers, and others.
Senior Citizens (2024 Expansion)
- All citizens aged 70 years and above are eligible irrespective of income.
- Covered up to ₹5 lakh annually.
- Issued a separate Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card.
- Existing PM-JAY beneficiaries receive an additional top-up cover exclusive to senior citizens.
- Eligible even if covered under private insurance or Employees’ State Insurance (ESI).
Key Features of PM-JAY
- Covers 1,949 treatment packages across 27 medical specialties.
- Includes free medicines, diagnostics, hospitalization, food, accommodation and 15 days of post-discharge medicines.
- Cashless and paperless treatment at empanelled hospitals across India.
- National portability allows beneficiaries to avail treatment anywhere in India.
- Implemented by the National Health Authority (NHA) in partnership with States and Union Territories.
Other Initiatives under Ayushman Bharat
1.Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)
About
- Launched: 2021
- Objective: Build an integrated digital health ecosystem for seamless exchange of health records.
- Outlay: ₹1,600 crore (2021–22 to 2025–26).
Key Components
- ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account): Unique 14-digit Health ID for every citizen.
- ABHA Mobile App (Personal Health Record): Enables storage, sharing and management of digital health records.
- Healthcare Professionals Registry (HPR).
- Health Facility Registry (HFR).
2.Ayushman Bhav Campaign
About
- Launched: 2023
- A nationwide health campaign under Ayushman Bharat to accelerate Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
- Aims to ensure last-mile delivery of essential healthcare services through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, involving government agencies, civil society, and local communities.
Major Components
- Ayushman Apke Dwar 3.0 – Distribution of Ayushman Cards.
- Ayushman Melas – Health camps, teleconsultation and ABHA generation.
- Ayushman Sabhas – Village-level awareness programmes on health schemes and disease prevention.
Conclusion
Ayushman Bharat integrates primary healthcare, financial risk protection and digital health infrastructure into a single framework, making it the cornerstone of India’s efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and strengthen the country’s public healthcare system.