The Government of India has made substantial strides in the healthcare sector, particularly in strengthening access, availability, and quality of services across the nation. At the forefront of this mission is the robust implementation and continual enhancement of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). Launched as a visionary initiative to deliver universal health coverage, AB PM-JAY is now witnessing new benchmarks in healthcare reform and service delivery.

Expansion of Health Benefit Packages

One of the key components driving the evolution of AB PM-JAY is its regularly updated Health Benefit Package Master, which reflects the latest clinical advancements, stakeholder consultations, and emerging public health needs. As of July 2025, the revised package now includes 1,961 medical procedures spanning 27 medical specialties. This expansion is designed to provide holistic and specialized care, ensuring beneficiaries receive the most current and relevant medical treatments.

This substantial revision was not merely an administrative formality—it stemmed from a commitment to align with evidence-based medicine and international best practices. By incorporating procedures across specialties such as cardiology, oncology, nephrology, orthopaedics, and more, the government ensures that the program addresses diverse patient requirements in both urban and rural settings.

Quality Standards and Hospital Empanelment

To ensure the highest quality of care, the government has laid down stringent norms for the empanelment of private hospitals. These hospitals are selected based on comprehensive criteria covering infrastructure, clinical manpower, and patient care capabilities. Moreover, hospitals are incentivised to obtain prestigious certifications such as those from the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH) and National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS).

All healthcare providers under AB PM-JAY must comply with Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs). These evidence-based protocols standardize care delivery, promote efficient use of resources, and uphold the quality and consistency of healthcare services offered under the scheme. STGs also ensure that healthcare providers across the country follow uniform treatment pathways, minimizing discrepancies in patient outcomes.

Milestone Achievement: Over 1.77 Lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs

Perhaps the most significant milestone under the healthcare initiative has been the establishment of 1,77,906 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) as of June 30, 2025, surpassing the original target of 1,50,000 centres. These facilities, developed by upgrading Sub-Health Centres (SHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs), now act as the backbone of India’s primary healthcare infrastructure.

These Ayushman Arogya Mandirs offer an integrated continuum of care, providing a wide array of services such as:

• Preventive care: Including immunizations and screening.

• Promotive services: Focusing on wellness, nutrition, and lifestyle.

• Curative and rehabilitative treatments: Managing both acute and chronic diseases.

• Reproductive and child healthcare: Addressing maternal and child health indicators.

• Diagnostics and essential medicines: Ensuring timely treatment and disease detection.

The transformation of these centres reflects the government’s vision to bring healthcare closer to communities, especially in remote and underserved regions.

Strengthening Human Resources through National Health Mission

A persistent challenge in rural healthcare delivery is the availability of qualified medical professionals. The government, through the National Health Mission (NHM), has implemented strategic incentives to attract and retain healthcare providers in rural and remote areas.

Key interventions include:

• Hard area allowances: Financial incentives to serve in geographically challenging zones.

• Flexible salary models: Enabling local customization based on the difficulty level and remoteness.

• Non-monetary incentives: Such as priority admission to postgraduate medical courses for doctors serving in underserved locations.

These provisions have helped enhance the motivation, retention, and performance of medical professionals, leading to better service delivery in places where healthcare access was traditionally limited.

Diagnostic and Drug Support

The Government also ensures the availability of essential diagnostics and medications at both Sub-Health Centre-AAM (SHC-AAM) and Primary Health Centre-AAM (PHC-AAM) levels. These services are vital for early detection and management of common and chronic illnesses, thereby reducing the need for tertiary-level interventions and lowering the overall cost of treatment.

Focus on Equity and Universal Health Coverage

All these efforts feed into the broader goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), as envisioned in the National Health Policy. The AB PM-JAY remains the world’s largest government-funded health insurance scheme, providing health protection to over 50 crore individuals. The recent expansions and quality initiatives reiterate the government’s commitment to ensuring that no citizen is left behind, irrespective of their economic or geographical status.

The approach is deeply inclusive, addressing the needs of vulnerable populations, marginalised communities, and those residing in backward regions. Through digital innovations, telemedicine, health insurance portability, and mobile health units, the government continues to broaden the reach and depth of healthcare services in India.

The Road Ahead

While the strides made are commendable, the government is not resting on its laurels. Future initiatives are expected to focus on:

• Expanding digital health ecosystems, including deeper integration with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).

• Improving supply chain logistics for medicines and equipment in remote areas.

• Introducing real-time monitoring dashboards for quality assurance and performance evaluation.

• Scaling up training programs for health workers, especially in tribal and hilly districts.

Conclusion

The Government of India’s healthcare reforms, anchored in the principles of accessibility, affordability, and quality, are reshaping the country's public health landscape. From revamping the Health Benefit Package to establishing over 1.77 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, and incentivising medical personnel in rural regions, these initiatives collectively underscore a bold and comprehensive transformation of the Indian healthcare system.

By ensuring that every citizen can avail of necessary health services without financial hardship, the government reaffirms its commitment to the vision of Ayushman Bharat—a healthy and equitable India.

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