Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday, 1 July 2026, highlighted the expansion of healthcare services in the state under the Atal Ayushman Yojana, citing issuance of more than 62 lakh Ayushman cards and free cashless treatment worth over ₹2,300 crore provided to nearly 12 lakh patients.

Context

CM Dhami posted on X crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership for the steady strengthening of health services in Uttarakhand. In his post, he stated — 'Atal Ayushman Yojana ke tahat pradesh mein 62 lakh se adhik Ayushman card banaye ja chuke hain' ['Under the Atal Ayushman Yojana, more than 62 lakh Ayushman cards have been issued in the state']. MLA Savita Kapoor was also noted as present at the occasion.

The Chief Minister further noted that approximately 12 lakh patients have received free, cashless treatment amounting to more than ₹2,300 crore. He also pointed to the ongoing expansion of medical colleges, nursing institutions, and modern health facilities across the state.

Policy Backdrop

The Atal Ayushman Yojana is Uttarakhand's state-branded health insurance programme, launched in 2019 as an extension of the central government's Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), which was introduced nationally in 2018. The central scheme was designed to cover secondary and tertiary hospitalisation costs for economically vulnerable families.

Uttarakhand's state variant expanded the coverage footprint to include residents not covered under the central scheme, aligning with the BJP-led government's push to universalise health insurance at the state level. Empanelment of private and public hospitals has been a key mechanism for delivering cashless services under both schemes.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries are Uttarakhand's residents, particularly those in hilly and remote districts where access to secondary and tertiary care has historically been limited. The ₹2,300 crore in cashless treatments represents a significant financial relief for low-income households who would otherwise bear out-of-pocket costs.

Expansion of medical colleges and nursing institutions, as mentioned by CM Dhami, also signals an effort to address the state's long-standing shortage of healthcare professionals — a structural challenge in mountainous states with dispersed populations.

What's Next

Attention will turn to Uttarakhand's state budget allocations for new medical colleges and the health department's periodic reporting on claim volumes and hospital empanelment figures under the Atal Ayushman Yojana. The pace of enrolment and infrastructure expansion will be closely watched as indicators of whether the state can sustain and deepen healthcare access ahead of the next electoral cycle.