India’s healthcare journey over the past eight years reflects a significant shift in the way public health is approached- moving beyond treatment alone towards financial protection, accessible primary healthcare, digital health infrastructure and stronger preparedness for future health challenges. At the center of this transformation is Ayushman Bharat, launched by the Government of India in 2018 with the objective of advancing universal health coverage. This flagship health scheme has now completed eight years, and the scale of its implementation provides a substantial measure of the government’s efforts to make healthcare more accessible and affordable, particularly for economically vulnerable sections of society.
The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) provides cashless hospitalisation cover of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for eligible beneficiaries. More than 48.51 crore Ayushman cards had been issued by September 21, 2026, while the scheme had supported around 13.25 crore hospital admissions involving treatment worth ₹2.03 lakh crore through more than 38,000 empanelled public and private hospitals.
These numbers illustrate the considerable expansion of publicly supported healthcare access. Equally important is the government’s emphasis on protecting families from the financial shock that can accompany serious illness. The scheme covers 1,961 procedures across 27 medical specialties, allowing eligible beneficiaries to access cashless treatment at empanelled hospitals.
Healthcare with a stronger focus on inclusion
A notable feature of the government’s approach has been the expansion of coverage to groups requiring particular attention. In 2024, AB PM-JAY was extended to approximately 37 lakh families of ASHAs, Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers. The scheme was also expanded to cover all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their socio-economic status, covering an estimated six crore elderly citizens. By September 21, 2026, more than 1.36 crore Ayushman Vay Vandana cards had been created for senior citizens. More than 44.81 lakh cards had also been created for ASHAs, Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers.
This expansion reflects an important dimension of healthcare policy- extending financial protection to sections that play critical roles in society or may face greater healthcare needs because of age or occupational circumstances. The portability of the scheme has added another layer of accessibility. AB PM-JAY allows beneficiaries to obtain cashless treatment at empanelled hospitals across the country, irrespective of their home state or Union Territory. As of June 30, 2026, more than 29.05 lakh inter-state portability admissions worth over ₹8,383 crore had been authorised. This is particularly relevant for migrant workers and families travelling outside their home states for employment or treatment.
Taking primary healthcare closer to citizens
Ayushman Bharat is not limited to hospitalization only. Its broader architecture includes Ayushman Arogya Mandirs also, which seek to bring comprehensive primary healthcare closer to communities. These centres provide services extending beyond conventional maternal and child healthcare including screening and management of diseases, mental healthcare, oral, eye and ENT care, first-level emergency and trauma care, essential medicines and diagnostics. They also provide a platform for community health outreach and telemedicine services through e-Sanjeevani. The scale of this primary healthcare network is substantial. Government data shows more than 1.87 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs were functional as of September 14, 2026. The importance of this model lies in bringing healthcare closer to people’s homes and strengthening the first point of contact between citizens and the public health system.
Creating a digital backbone for healthcare
Another defining feature of the government’s healthcare strategy is the integration of technology. The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), launched in 2021, is designed to create an integrated and citizen-centric digital health ecosystem. At its core are Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHAs), which provide individuals with digital health identities and facilitate the linking of health records. As of September 17, 2026, more than 97.61 crore ABHA IDs were operational, with more than 119.95 crore health records linked to them. The digital ecosystem also included more than 5.78 lakh verified healthcare facilities and over 11 lakh registered healthcare professionals. This digital infrastructure represents an important evolution in public healthcare delivery, potentially making health information more portable and improving coordination among patients, healthcare professionals and healthcare institutions.
Preparing India for future health challenges
The government’s approach has also placed emphasis on health infrastructure and preparedness. The Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) was launched in 2021 with a budgetary outlay of ₹64,180 crore for 2021–26. The mission includes support for rural and urban health and wellness centres, block public health units, integrated public health laboratories and critical care hospital blocks. The government has outlined support for 23,224 rural health and wellness centers, 13,736 urban health and wellness centers, 3,389 block public health units, 744 integrated public health laboratories and 631 critical care hospital blocks in specified categories and locations. It indicates that the healthcare strategy is not confined to providing insurance coverage. It also seeks to strengthen the physical and institutional capacity required to respond to disease outbreaks and other health emergencies.
From financial protection to a healthier India
The significance of Ayushman Bharat lies ultimately in the way its different components complement one another. AB PM-JAY provides financial protection for secondary and tertiary care, Ayushman Arogya Mandirs strengthen primary healthcare, ABDM creates a digital health backbone, and PM-ABHIM focuses on infrastructure, surveillance and preparedness. Together, these initiatives represent a broader approach to healthcare- one that seeks to address the citizen’s needs across the continuum of care.
The figures recorded after eight years demonstrate the considerable scale at which these government programmes are operating. More than 13 crore hospital admissions under AB PM-JAY, thousands of empanelled hospitals, hundreds of crores of visits to Arogya Mandirs and nearly 100 crore ABHA IDs point to a healthcare system increasingly supported by public financing, primary-care infrastructure and digital technology. For India, where the challenge is not merely to expand healthcare facilities but also to ensure that ordinary citizens can access them without facing crippling financial burdens, this transformation has important implications.
The continuing evolution of Ayushman Bharat therefore represents a significant chapter in India’s public health story. The emphasis on access, affordability, inclusion, digital innovation and health system preparedness provides a framework through which the Government of India is pursuing the larger objective of universal health coverage. Eight years after its launch, Ayushman Bharat stands as one of the most extensive government-led efforts to expand healthcare protection and delivery across the country. Its continuing expansion from hospital insurance to neighbourhood level primary care and a nationwide digital health ecosystem, illustrates the scale and breadth of India’s ongoing transformation in public healthcare.
