Gujarat has emerged as the top-performing state in the country in terms of claim settlements under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana–Mukhyamantri Amrutum (AB PMJAY–MA), reinforcing its position as a leader in public healthcare delivery.
The state government said this achievement reflects its focus on ensuring timely, cashless, and inclusive access to medical treatment for citizens across income groups.
The AB PMJAY–MA scheme, which integrates the Centre’s flagship Ayushman Bharat programme with the state-run Mukhyamantri Amrutum Yojana, currently covers around 1.20 crore families in Gujarat.
In July 2023, under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel’s leadership, the annual health insurance cover per family was enhanced from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh, significantly expanding financial protection against major illnesses.
Chief Minister Patel said the scheme is guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Swasth Gujarat, Samruddh Gujarat,” aimed at strengthening health security for the poor and middle class. He noted that the issuance of Ayushman cards and the enhanced coverage ensure that even people in remote and economically weaker regions can access free treatment for serious diseases, while government hospitals continue to deliver high-quality healthcare services.
With the increase in insurance coverage, the premium structure was also revised. When coverage was capped at Rs 5 lakh, the premium per family was Rs 2,177.10 during July 2021–July 2022, with total expenditure of Rs 1,681.20 crore. It was reduced to Rs 1,492 per family between July 2022 and July 2023, with an expenditure of Rs 1,363.52 crore. After the coverage was raised to Rs 10 lakh from July 10, 2023, the premium increased to Rs 3,708 per family. The state’s expenditure under the scheme was Rs 2,676.26 crore in 2023–24 and Rs 3,210.03 crore in 2024–25.
Currently, 2,090 hospitals are empanelled under AB PMJAY–MA in Gujarat, including 1,132 government hospitals and 958 private hospitals. As of November 2025, beneficiaries can avail treatment for 2,299 medical procedures, along with 50 Specialised Referral Services (SRS).
Officials said Gujarat’s top ranking in claim settlements highlights the efficiency of its implementation mechanism. The state has also expanded the scheme to cover government personnel. In May 2025, the Gujarat government launched the Karmayogi Swasth Suraksha Yojana for all state government officers, employees, and pensioners. Under this initiative, cashless treatment benefits are provided through AB PMJAY–MA to All India Services officers, state staff, fixed-pay employees, pensioners, and their dependent family members. About 6.40 lakh beneficiaries have been registered under the “G” category and issued AB PMJAY–MA cards.
The impact of the scheme is evident in individual cases such as that of 66-year-old Faruk Khimani, a small shopkeeper from Ahmedabad. Diagnosed with coronary artery disease, Khimani underwent coronary angiography and coronary artery bypass grafting surgery at the U.N. Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre in May 2025, receiving Rs 5.24 lakh in financial assistance under AB PMJAY–MA. He was later readmitted in December 2025 for a CRT-P implant procedure due to breathing complications. His condition has since stabilised, and he credited the scheme with saving him from crippling medical expenses.
State officials said the scheme continues to play a crucial role in providing financial security and access to advanced medical care, underlining Gujarat’s commitment to building an inclusive and resilient healthcare system.
— IANS
