Indian Economy News

Initiatives by the government to improve access, availability, and quality of healthcare services

The Government of India continues to strengthen the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) by regularly updating its health benefit packages to reflect clinical advancements, stakeholder feedback, and evolving public health needs. The latest revision of the Health Package Master now covers 1,961 procedures across 27 medical specialties, ensuring comprehensive care options for beneficiaries. To uphold quality standards, empanelled private hospitals are selected based on stringent criteria such as infrastructure and manpower and are incentivised for certifications like National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH) and National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS). All hospitals must follow Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs), ensuring consistent, high-quality healthcare across the country under AB PM-JAY.
A significant milestone has been the establishment of 1,77,906 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) as of June 30, 2025, exceeding the initial target of 1,50,000 centres. These centres, transformed from sub-health centres and primary health centres, provide a wide spectrum of preventive, promotive, rehabilitative, and curative services, including reproductive health and disease management. The Government also supports essential drugs and diagnostic services at both Sub-Health Centres - Ayushman Arogya Mandir (SHC-AAM) and Primary Health Centre - Ayushman Arogya Mandir (PHC-AAM) levels. To address healthcare workforce challenges, the National Health Mission offers attractive incentives for doctors serving in rural and remote areas, including hard area allowances, flexible salary models, and non-monetary benefits such as priority admission to postgraduate courses. These efforts collectively reinforce the Government’s commitment to accessible, affordable, and high-quality primary healthcare, especially in underserved regions.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.