A major milestone in this transformation came in 2018 with the launch of Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, described as the world’s largest government-funded health insurance programme. The scheme provides annual health insurance coverage of up to 500,000 rupees per family for socio-economically disadvantaged households. According to official figures, more than 440 million Ayushman cards have been issued, while medical treatment worth over 1.8 trillion rupees has been delivered under the programme. In a major expansion announced in October 2024, the government introduced Ayushman Bharat Vay Vandana, extending coverage to all citizens aged above 70 years.
The government has also established 186,000 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs across the country to strengthen primary healthcare delivery at the grassroots level. These centres provide a comprehensive range of services, including maternal and child healthcare, immunisation, diagnostic facilities, and free essential medicines, significantly improving access to healthcare in local communities.
In another key initiative, the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana has ensured the availability of quality-certified generic medicines at substantially lower prices than market rates. Speaking to All India Radio News, Dilip Kumar, a resident of Bihar, noted that medicines at Janaushadhi Kendras are available at very affordable prices, improving access for economically weaker sections.
The government has also expanded medical education to address the growing demand for healthcare professionals. The number of All India Institutes of Medical Sciences increased from 8 in 2014 to 23, while medical colleges expanded from 387 to 818, marking a significant strengthening of the country’s medical education infrastructure.
Further, the Ministry of Ayush, established in November 2014, has integrated traditional medicine systems into the national healthcare framework. As of 2025, 942 Ayush institutions have been established across the country, reinforcing alternative and holistic healthcare delivery alongside modern medicine.
Over the past 12 years, the cumulative expansion of hospitals, primary healthcare services, and medical education has significantly improved accessibility, affordability, and quality in India’s healthcare system, marking one of the most extensive health sector reforms in the country’s history.
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