Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday, 28 May 2026, reaffirmed his government's commitment to universal healthcare access, stating that Ayushman card holders across the country are entitled to free treatment worth up to Rs 5 lakh at more than 22,000 empanelled government and private hospitals nationwide.

Context

In his post, CM Dhami wrote in Hindi: 'हमारी सरकार बेहतर स्वास्थ्य सुविधाओं को सर्वोच्च प्राथमिकता देते हुए प्रत्येक जरूरतमंद नागरिक तक गुणवत्तापूर्ण इलाज की सुविधा पहुंचाने के लिए निरंतर कार्य कर रही है' ['Our government, giving the highest priority to better health facilities, is continuously working to provide quality treatment to every needy citizen.']. He specifically highlighted that Ayushman card holders can avail cashless treatment for serious illnesses at empanelled hospitals across India. The statement underscores the state government's active promotion of the centrally funded health protection scheme.

Policy Backdrop

The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) was launched nationally in September 2018 to extend health insurance coverage to 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families, covering secondary and tertiary hospitalisation costs up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year. The scheme is among the world's largest government-funded health assurance programmes, designed to reduce catastrophic out-of-pocket expenditure that pushes families into poverty. Uttarakhand has integrated PM-JAY into its state health policy through its state health agency, with a sustained focus on expanding the network of empanelled hospitals.

Successive governments in Uttarakhand have used the scheme as a cornerstone of healthcare delivery, particularly given the state's challenging terrain and the difficulty many residents face in accessing tertiary care. The emphasis on both government and private hospital empanelment is intended to maximise the network available to beneficiaries, especially in hilly and remote districts.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries are economically weaker section (EWS) families and other vulnerable households who would otherwise bear the full cost of hospitalisation for serious or chronic illnesses. By enabling cashless treatment at over 22,000 hospitals, the scheme aims to ensure that financial constraints do not prevent timely medical intervention. CM Dhami's communication reinforces the scheme's reach at a time when states are increasingly publicising utilisation data and expanding beneficiary awareness drives.

Private hospitals empanelled under PM-JAY also benefit from a predictable patient base and government reimbursements, creating an incentive structure that draws more facilities into the network. For patients in Uttarakhand, this is particularly significant as it allows them to seek treatment in larger cities outside the state without additional financial burden.

What's Next

Analysts tracking the scheme will watch for state-level data releases on Ayushman card utilisation rates and any fresh hospital empanelments in Uttarakhand. Broader reviews of PM-JAY implementation — including coverage gaps, claim settlement timelines, and quality of care at empanelled facilities — remain ongoing at both the central and state levels. CM Dhami's public communication signals that healthcare access will continue to be a political and policy priority for his administration in the months ahead.