When Ayushman Bharat (AB) PM-JAY was launched from Ranchi in 2018, it marked the beginning of a new era in healthcare access. By extending the ₹5-lakh annual health cover to vulnerable families and enabling cashless transactions, it enabled paperless treatment across the country. I recall Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s words from that day. “No one in the country should be deprived of quality healthcare only because they cannot afford it,” he said.

We have made tremendous progress in translating the Prime Minister’s ambitious vision into reality. In this short period, the scheme has become the lifeline of our most vulnerable brothers and sisters across the country. The scheme is being implemented nationwide, with the unfortunate exception of West Bengal. As of August 2025, over 10.30 crore plus hospital admissions have been authorised, translating into more than ₹1.48 lakh crore in cashless care and recorded out-of-pocket savings.

The impact of AB PM-JAY is profound. A decade ago, families paid for medical care almost entirely out of pocket. Today, that burden has fallen sharply, with nearly 61 crore people protected by AB PM-JAY. The beneficiary base expanded to 12 crore families in 2022 to account for decadal population growth. The Ashas, anganwadi workers and their families were added in March 2024, and all senior citizens aged above 70 were covered regardless of their income from October 2024 through the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card. Additionally, nearly one crore gig and platform workers are being included under the........

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