New Delhi, Feb 4 (NationPress) The government’s flagship Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) has substantially enhanced access to complex spine surgeries while eliminating out-of-pocket expenses, thereby alleviating the financial strain on patients from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, as revealed by a recent study.

Conducted by the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, the study noted a significant uptick in the utilization of PMJAY for spine surgeries, alongside a noticeable reduction in self-funded procedures.

This retrospective, single-center observational study examined all spine surgeries carried out from January 2023 to December 2024. A total of 410 patients (249 males and 161 females) underwent surgery during the study timeframe.

The predominant cases involved degenerative spinal disorders (46.1%) and traumatic injuries (33.4%).

In total, 276 procedures (67.3%) were covered by PM-JAY, while 110 (26.8%) were financed privately.

The research team from the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at PGIMER noted, “PM-JAY utilization surged from 58.7% (101/172) in 2023 to 73.5% (175/238) in 2024, while self-financed procedures dropped from 37.8% in 2023 to 18.9% in 2024.”

“By removing out-of-pocket costs for 73.5% of our 2024 cohort, this initiative has engaged economically vulnerable populations previously excluded from such care,” they added.

The results, published in the Journal of Clinical Orthopaedics and Trauma, indicate that “publicly funded insurance is effectively improving financial access to implant-intensive spine care across a wide array of conditions. Nevertheless, strong clinical governance is crucial to ensure fair implementation and prevent overutilization.”

Launched in 2018, ABPMJAY is the largest publicly funded health insurance program globally, offering coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary care to eligible households.

The initiative seeks to minimize catastrophic health expenditures and enhance access to essential healthcare services by partnering with both public and private hospitals nationwide. Since its launch, PM-JAY has seen increased usage for high-cost surgical interventions, including orthopedic and spine procedures.

“Extending coverage to include postoperative rehabilitation and necessary orthotic devices could enhance continuity of care and long-term functional outcomes. Furthermore, standardized data collection and reporting across empaneled institutions would support ongoing assessment of utilization trends, outcomes, and cost-effectiveness,” the researchers concluded.