India’s Healthcare Reforms Expand Access and Strengthen Health Security for Millions
- IBEF
- June 9, 2026
India’s healthcare sector has undergone a significant transformation over the past 12 years through investments in health infrastructure, insurance coverage, digital healthcare and disease-control programmes. At the centre of this effort is Ayushman Bharat, which has expanded access to affordable healthcare while strengthening financial protection for vulnerable households. Under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), nearly 12 crore families are eligible for annual health coverage of up to Rs. 5 lakh (US$ 5,234.51). Since its launch in 2018, more than 44.14 crore Ayushman cards have been issued and over 12.03 crore hospital admissions have been supported. The programme has financed treatment worth over Rs. 1.80 lakh crore (US$ 18.84 billion). Healthcare delivery at the grassroots level has also improved through more than 1.86 lakh operational Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, which collectively have recorded over 540 crore patient visits. These initiatives, combined with expanded maternal and child healthcare services, immunisation programmes and disease-control measures, have strengthened public confidence in government healthcare facilities while reducing out-of-pocket expenditure for millions of citizens.
India has also accelerated the adoption of digital healthcare and strengthened preparedness for future health emergencies. The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission has created an integrated digital health ecosystem with more than 20.49 crore registrations, while the eSanjeevani telemedicine platform has facilitated over 47 crore consultations since 2019, improving access to specialist healthcare in remote areas. To enhance healthcare resilience, the government launched the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission with an outlay of Rs. 64,180 crore (US$ 6.72 billion) to strengthen laboratories, critical care facilities and disease surveillance systems. The expansion of Jan Aushadhi Kendras, free dialysis services and affordable medicine initiatives has further reduced treatment costs for patients. Together, these reforms are improving healthcare accessibility, affordability and quality, supporting India’s progress towards universal health coverage and its vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.
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