The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) has facilitated over 91.9 million hospital admissions since its launch in 2018, according to a recent report. These treatments amount to ₹1,293.86 billion. Dialysis has emerged as the most frequently availed treatment under the scheme.
The National Health Authority's (NHA) annual report for 2024-25 highlights the scheme's significant impact on healthcare accessibility across India. As of March 31, over 404.5 million Ayushman cards have been issued, covering approximately 146.9 million families. The scheme now includes citizens aged 70 and above, extending its benefits to around 45 million additional families.
Dialysis Dominates Availments
Among the various treatments accessed through Ayushman Bharat, hemodialysis stands out, accounting for nearly 14% of all treatments since the scheme's inception. This high number is likely due to the chronic nature of kidney failure, often requiring patients to undergo dialysis two to three times a week. According to earlier data, since the scheme's launch on August 20, 2019, 420,000 patients have received dialysis treatment at empanelled hospitals, costing ₹738.1 million.
Following hemodialysis, the most common treatments include multiple packages (7%), treatment for acute febrile illness (4%), acute gastroenteritis, and cataract and related procedures (3%).
State-wise trends
Tamil Nadu has carried out 730,000 dialysis cycles, followed by Madhya Pradesh (540,000), Uttar Pradesh (500,000) and Gujarat (340,000). Rajasthan ranks third with 5.74 million admissions, while Kerala (5.46 million) and Andhra Pradesh (4.96 million) complete the top five. Despite this strong performance in admissions, these southern states do not figure in the top five for creating Ayushman cards.
Public vs. Private Sector Utilization
While government hospitals constitute a significant portion of the empanelled facilities, a notable trend indicates that a majority of beneficiaries are utilizing the scheme to seek care in private-sector hospitals. Approximately 52% of the 91.9 million hospitalizations occurred in private hospitals, accounting for nearly two-thirds (66%) of the total treatment value, which amounts to ₹1,290 billion.
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)
The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) is driving digital transformation in the country. 765 million Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA) have been created, linking 513 million health records, covering 6 in 10 Indians. The ABHA App Version 3, launched in 13 languages, has over 15.7 million downloads and generates 200,000-300,000 tokens daily.
Challenges and Way Forward
Despite the scheme's success, challenges remain. In March 2021, a multi-crore scam was uncovered in Punjab, where private hospitals submitted fake bills. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has also highlighted shortcomings in the scheme's implementation. Furthermore, the reduction in dialysis rates has caused some private healthcare centers to stop their services under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
The government aims to address these challenges through strengthened digital infrastructure, grievance redressal systems, and increased monitoring to prevent fraudulent practices.
