Delhi: Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri – Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) marked a significant milestone by crossing 30 crore Ayushman cards by January 12. Implemented by the National Health Authority (NHA), this flagship scheme aims to provide health coverage of Rs. 5 lakhs per family annually for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to 12 Crore beneficiary families.
Ayushman card creation is a pivotal aspect of the AB PM-JAY initiative, and concerted efforts have led to the creation of 30 crore Ayushman cards. Over 16.7 crore cards were generated in the last two fiscal years, with an additional 7.5 crore cards during the ongoing 2023-24 financial year. This implies the creation of approximately 181 Ayushman cards every minute.
The Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, launched on November 15, 2023, played a crucial role in accelerating card creation at the grassroots level, contributing more than 2.43 crore Ayushman cards during the Yatra. The ‘Ayushman App’ has further streamlined the process, allowing users to self-verify and create Ayushman cards in just four simple steps using an Android mobile phone.
Uttar Pradesh leads the states with 4.83 crore Ayushman cards, followed by Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra with 3.78 crore and 2.39 crore, respectively. With approximately 14.6 crore Ayushman cards created for females, the scheme is actively promoting gender equity in healthcare access.
Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY has facilitated 6.2 crore hospital admissions, amounting to more than Rs. 79,157 crores in savings for beneficiaries. The scheme’s success lies not only in providing healthcare but also in alleviating the financial burden on poor and deprived families, saving over Rs. 1.25 lakh crore in out-of-pocket expenditures.