Ayushman Bharat scheme crosses milestone with issuance of 30 crore health cards
The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri – Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) has achieved a milestone by issuing over 30 crore Ayushman cards as of January 12. The initiative, led by the National Health Authority (NHA), aims to provide health coverage of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to 12 crore beneficiary families.
Generating Ayushman cards is a vital aspect of the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, and the program has consistently strived to ensure that every beneficiary possesses their Ayushman card. In the last two financial years alone, over 16.7 crore Ayushman cards were generated, with more than 7.5 crore created in the current fiscal year, averaging approximately 181 cards every minute.
The efforts to expedite card creation received a boost from the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, launched on November 15, 2023, and the Ayushman Bhava campaign initiated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The campaigns, offering on-spot services, have led to the creation of over 2.43 crore Ayushman cards.
To enhance accessibility at the grassroots level, the NHA introduced the ‘Ayushman App’ for Ayushman card creation. Launched on September 13, 2023, the app has been downloaded more than 52 lakh times, allowing users to create Ayushman Cards in just four simple steps.
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 cards, respectively. Eleven states have over 1 crore Ayushman cardholders.
Approximately 14.6 crore Ayushman cards have been created for females, underscoring the scheme’s commitment to gender equality.
The Ayushman card has evolved into a symbol of equity and empowerment, providing assurance to poor and deprived families against the financial burden of illness. The government is keen on ensuring that all eligible beneficiaries possess an Ayushman Card.
Furthermore, Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY has facilitated 6.2 crore hospital admissions, resulting in savings of more than Rs. 1.25 lakh crore in out-of-pocket expenditures for poor and deprived families. Without the scheme’s support, the cost of these treatments would have nearly doubled, totaling over Rs. 79,157 crores.
