India’s health scheme supports over 130 million hospital admissions

India’s Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY health coverage programme has supported more than 130 million hospital admissions in eight years, according to figures announced by Health Minister J. P. Nadda.

Speaking in New Delhi on 25 September, Nadda said the programme covered more than 600 million people and had enabled treatment worth over 2 trillion rupees.

Coverage has been expanded to include everyone aged 70 and above, regardless of income. Patients can also use the scheme across state borders, making it particularly useful for migrant workers seeking care away from home. Nadda recalled that, before the programme began, some families had to sell land or homes to pay for treatment for serious illnesses.

The next challenge is to make that broad reach translate into consistently good care. At the anniversary meeting, senior health officials called for better continuity of care, smoother referrals to specialists and further improvements in treatment quality. They also highlighted more than 150 treatment guidelines and step-by-step guides developed by the Indian Council of Medical Research to help make care more consistent.