New Delhi, September 23, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday highlighted the expansion of Ayushman Bharat as the healthcare scheme completed eight years, saying more than 60 crore beneficiaries now have access to annual health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh.
Marking the milestone, Modi said the scheme was launched with the objective of ensuring that every Indian has access to quality and affordable healthcare.
“Eight years ago, Ayushman Bharat was rolled out with the idea that every Indian should have access to top-quality and affordable healthcare. Today, more than 60 crore beneficiaries have access to Rs 5 lakh annual health cover, making it the largest healthcare scheme in the world,” Modi said in a social media post.
He said the scheme had enabled significant savings on medical expenses for poor and middle-class families and helped bring healthcare services closer to communities.
Modi also highlighted the reach of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, saying they had recorded more than 500 crore visits and were strengthening primary healthcare at the grassroots.
MyGovIndia, in a post shared by the Prime Minister, said free treatment under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) had helped families save more than Rs 2 lakh crore in healthcare expenses.
According to the post, more than 38,000 hospitals are now part of the Ayushman network across the country, while the scheme has facilitated more than 13 crore hospital admissions.
The government platform also said six crore senior citizens aged above 70 are now covered under Ayushman Bharat, irrespective of their socio-economic status.
It said 1.86 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs were providing primary healthcare services closer to communities and had recorded more than 500 crore footfalls.
Women account for nearly half of all Ayushman Cards, according to MyGovIndia. The post also highlighted more than 42 crore screenings for diabetes and hypertension, along with screenings for oral, breast and cervical cancers, aimed at detecting health risks early.
The scheme’s portability was also highlighted, with more than 30 lakh treatments worth over Rs 8,800 crore availed by beneficiaries outside their home states.
“60+ crore people are covered under Ayushman Bharat with health cover of Rs 5 lakh, offering financial protection when serious medical care is needed,” MyGovIndia said.
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