Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on Wednesday, 23 September 2026 marked the eighth anniversary of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), describing it as the world's largest health assurance scheme and highlighting that more than 60 crore people have been brought under its coverage since its launch. The milestone underscores the scheme's reach as a cornerstone of India's public health architecture.

Key Milestones at Eight Years

According to Nadda, more than 48.54 crore Ayushman cards have been created under the scheme, while over 13 crore beneficiaries have already availed treatment. Beneficiaries have collectively accessed hospitalisation and medical treatment worth more than ₹2 lakh crore through a network of over 39,000 empanelled public and private hospitals across the country.

Notably, PM-JAY now covers more than half a billion people — a figure that, if the scheme were a country, would rank it among the most populous nations on earth. This is a significant scaling milestone for a programme that began in 2018 as part of the broader Ayushman Bharat initiative.

What the Minister Said

Posting on social media platform X, Nadda said the scheme reflected a 'Sankalp for Seva' initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 'What began eight years ago as the Sankalp for Seva of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji has transformed healthcare access for millions,' he said in his post.

Nadda emphasised the human dimension behind the numbers. 'Behind every number is a story — a family protected from the burden of medical debt, a patient receiving timely treatment, a loved one relieved of pain, and a household able to face illness without the fear of financial hardship,' he said, adding that hearing from beneficiaries directly was 'a powerful reminder of the impact of this historic journey of Seva.'

Why PM-JAY Matters for India's Healthcare

PM-JAY was designed specifically to address catastrophic health expenditure — a leading cause of household debt and poverty in India. Before the scheme, a large section of India's population had no financial safety net against major illnesses, forcing families to either forgo treatment or sell assets to fund hospitalisation.

This comes amid growing recognition globally that out-of-pocket health spending remains one of the biggest drivers of poverty in developing economies. India's public health expenditure, while rising, still trails several comparable economies as a share of GDP — making demand-side insurance schemes like PM-JAY a critical bridge.

Government's Commitment Going Forward

Nadda said the government remained 'steadfast' in its commitment to building 'an accessible, affordable and inclusive healthcare system, ensuring that every citizen can access quality healthcare with dignity and without financial hardship.' The ministry has not yet announced specific targets or expansion plans for the scheme's ninth year, though officials have indicated continued focus on deepening hospital empanelment in underserved districts.

With over half a billion lives covered and ₹2 lakh crore in treatment availed, the scale of PM-JAY makes it a benchmark for publicly funded health assurance globally — and its next phase will likely determine whether coverage translates into consistently improved health outcomes.