Ayushman Bharat

The Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana can provide relief to countless low-income Indian families facing health expenditures. However, insufficient information about the scheme is preventing people from accessing its benefits.

An analysis of Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY), India’s flagship public health insurance scheme—what it promised, what it has achieved, and the way forward.

Despite its promise of universal healthcare for Indians, the scheme has been unable to provide quality health services to eligible patients and protect them from financial hardship.

Little can be done without a massive increase in public health expenditure and a radical revamp of the primary health infrastructure.

Access to healthcare is an issue that millions in the country still struggle with, and India needs to build a strong primary healthcare system to address this.

There are valuable lessons that state level universal health coverage schemes have to offer to Ayushman Bharat, particularly in light of its scheduled launch this September.