Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday highlighted the eight-year journey of Ayushman Bharat, saying the healthcare initiative has expanded access to affordable treatment and strengthened primary healthcare across India.
Ayushman Bharat was launched on September 23, 2018, with the objective of advancing universal health coverage and providing financial protection to economically vulnerable families. The flagship Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) provides annual health cover of up to ₹5 lakh per family for eligible beneficiaries.
In a statement marking the anniversary, PM Modi said the initiative was introduced with the idea that every Indian should have access to “top-quality and affordable healthcare.”
Over 60 Crore Beneficiaries Highlighted by PM Modi
PM Modi said that more than 60 crore beneficiaries now have access to ₹5 lakh annual health cover under Ayushman Bharat.
“Today, more than 60 crore beneficiaries have access to Rs. 5 lakh annual health cover, making it the largest healthcare scheme in the world,” the Prime Minister said.
The scheme was originally launched with a target of providing health assurance to more than 10 crore poor and vulnerable families. The government has since expanded the wider Ayushman Bharat framework through financial protection, primary healthcare, digital health infrastructure and health infrastructure development.
Official government data released ahead of the eighth anniversary states that AB PM-JAY had funded around 13.25 crore hospital admissions worth ₹2.03 lakh crore as of August 31, 2026, through more than 38,000 empanelled public and private hospitals.
PM Modi Says Scheme Has Reduced Medical Expenses
The Prime Minister also highlighted the financial impact of Ayushman Bharat on households, particularly among poorer and middle-class sections.
“It has enabled record savings on medical expenses, thus benefitting the poor and middle class,” Modi said.
AB PM-JAY is designed to reduce the financial burden associated with secondary and tertiary healthcare by providing eligible families with cashless hospitalisation coverage. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the programme is one of the key components of India’s broader strategy toward universal health coverage.
The government has also described reducing out-of-pocket expenditure as a central objective of its healthcare initiatives, alongside expanding affordable treatment, infrastructure and primary healthcare services.
Ayushman Arogya Mandirs Expand Primary Healthcare
Beyond hospitalisation coverage, the Ayushman Bharat framework has sought to strengthen healthcare closer to communities through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
PM Modi said these centres have recorded more than 500 crore visits, describing the development as evidence of healthcare moving closer to people’s doorsteps.
“Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have already recorded over 500 crore visits, strengthening primary healthcare at the grassroots,” he said.
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The official Ayushman Arogya Mandir portal showed more than 1.87 lakh functional centres across the country as of September 23, 2026. These facilities provide services spanning preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative care.
The centres also provide services including maternal and child healthcare, immunisation, screening and management of diseases, essential medicines and diagnostics, teleconsultation, oral and eye care, and wellness-related services.
Ayushman Bharat’s Wider Healthcare Architecture
The government describes Ayushman Bharat as a broader healthcare framework rather than a single programme. Alongside AB PM-JAY, its major components include Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission and the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission.
The digital component has also expanded significantly. According to the latest PIB backgrounder, more than 97.61 crore ABHA IDs were operational as of September 17, 2026, with over 119.95 crore health records linked to the accounts.
Together, these initiatives are intended to address different layers of healthcare—from financial protection during hospitalisation to primary care, digital health connectivity and public health infrastructure.
PM Modi Extends Wishes to Beneficiaries
Marking the eight-year milestone, PM Modi concluded his message by extending his wishes to people covered under the programme.“My best wishes to all Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries,” he said.
Ayushman Bharat’s eighth anniversary comes as India continues to expand its healthcare infrastructure and digital health ecosystem, with the government positioning universal health coverage as a long-term objective. Official data indicates that the programme has developed into a large-scale healthcare network combining insurance-based financial protection with primary care and digital health services.
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