The Ayushman Bharat programme has recorded significant progress across health insurance coverage, digital health infrastructure and primary healthcare delivery, with more than 15,733 private hospitals empanelled under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) as of 31 December 2025, the government informed Parliament on Tuesday.
Out of the total empanelled private hospitals, 1,259 are located in aspirational districts, strengthening access to quality healthcare in underserved regions. The information was shared by Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
Sharp Rise in Digital Health Accounts
Under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), the creation of Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA) has continued at a rapid pace. During the current financial year 2025-26, as many as 8.79 crore ABHA cards have been generated as of 28 January 2026.
Year-wise data shows steady growth in digital health adoption, with 22.28 crore ABHA cards created in 2023-24 and 17.69 crore in 2024-25, reflecting increasing integration of digital health services across the country.
Expansion of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs
The government has also made major strides in strengthening primary healthcare through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs). As of 31 December 2025, a total of 1,82,944 AAMs have been operationalised nationwide by upgrading Sub Health Centres (SHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs).
These centres now provide 12 comprehensive packages of primary healthcare services, covering maternal and child health, communicable and non-communicable diseases, mental health, elderly and palliative care, oral and ENT care, and basic emergency services. To support expanded services, the essential list has been enhanced to include 172 drugs and 63 diagnostics at PHC-AAMs, and 106 drugs and 14 diagnostics at SHC-AAMs.
Special focus has been placed on vulnerable regions, with 30,817 AAMs operationalised in 178 tribal districts across 26 States and 24,327 AAMs in 112 aspirational districts across 27 States.
Ayushman Vay Vandana Coverage for Senior Citizens
Under the Ayushman Vay Vandana initiative, introduced in October 2024 to extend AB-PMJAY benefits to senior citizens aged 70 years and above irrespective of socio-economic status, more than 96.73 lakh cards have been issued across States and Union Territories as of 31 December 2025.
During this period, 10.33 lakh hospital admissions worth ₹2,154.37 crore have been authorised for Ayushman Vay Vandana beneficiaries. Of these, 3.93 lakh admissions amounting to ₹820.42 crore were for female beneficiaries, while 6.40 lakh admissions worth ₹1,333.94 crore were for male beneficiaries.
Strengthening Universal Health Coverage
Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY provides health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care to around 12 crore families, representing the bottom 40 per cent of India’s population. With expanded hospital empanelment, rapid digital health adoption, strengthened primary healthcare infrastructure and focused coverage for senior citizens, the programme continues to play a central role in advancing universal health coverage across the country.
