Latest news with #ABPM-JAY
Hans India
2 days ago
- Health
- Hans India
Bihar: Motihari beneficiaries count benefits of Ayushman Bharat scheme, thank govt
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri - Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) - the largest publicly funded health assurance scheme in the world, providing health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation, is yielding considerable results in the city as thousands of residents have registered themselves for the scheme and are also drawing benefits from it. Unlike earlier, people from the lower and middle class background are getting themselves treated at hospitals without any expense. Those suffering from diseases are undergoing treatment in private hospitals of Motihari and also getting operated upon the PM-JAY. Many patients spoke to IANS, sharing how got operated on for hernia and other diseases like appendix, without accruing any financial burden. Beneficiary Virendra Shah said: "This scheme is very beneficial as the treatment of disease has become very expensive." Prem Kumar said: "If this scheme had not been introduced by the government, poor people like us would have either had to mortgage our jewellery or sell our land, but now, thanks to the government's scheme, we are getting treatment without spending a single rupee." A female beneficiary, Sangeeta Kumar, said: "We had got the Ayushman card made a long time ago. When we knew that treatment is being done under this scheme in this hospital, we came here. We are thankful to the government." Dr. Ajay Verma, a city doctor treating these patients also praised the PM-JAY. "Earlier, if farmers or poor people had a major illness and needed treatment, they had to sell rice and wheat or mortgage their jewellery to get treatment. But, PM-JAY is giving new life to people. People now come to the hospital without paying any money and go after getting treatment. Earlier they used to worry about both the disease and money, but now this does not happen," he told IANS.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
The road to Universal Health Coverage in India
At the recently convened 78th World Health Assembly, India reaffirmed its commitment to health equity — a timely resolution to address stark disparities in access to care. Central to India's pledge to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030, Ayushman Bharat is positioned as a game changer, ushering in transformative gains by expanding comprehensive healthcare, strengthening health infrastructure, and accelerating digital adoption. A key pillar of India's flagship Ayushman Bharat initiative is the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), offering comprehensive hospitalisation cover and financial risk protection to an estimated 500 million beneficiaries — roughly the bottom 40 per cent of India's population. Historically accounting for 60-70 per cent of total healthcare spending, out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) in India has declined to 39.4 per cent, according to the latest National Health Accounts estimates (2021–22) — a positive shift, though it remains to be seen whether this trend will sustain over time. The post-Covid period has seen a surge in healthcare listings on Indian stock exchanges, with corporate hospitals, diagnostic chains, pharmaceutical firms, vaccine makers, medical device companies, and health insurers entering the market. As per industry projections, India's healthcare industry — valued at $370 billion in 2022 — is estimated to reach $610 billion by 2026. The hospital sector alone accounts for nearly 50 per cent of all foreign direct investment in medical care, with strong interest from private equity firms. Concurrently, there have been inbound mergers and acquisitions by corporate hospitals in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, with the objective of greater market penetration and maximising revenue. Amidst the rapid expansion of the for-profit medical industry, insurance models are critical for financial protection, but more in a complementary role. Rhetorically seen as a panacea for UHC, insurance-led models may lead to cost inflation and, as seen in the US, exacerbate access barriers, exclusion, and widen disparities in health outcomes. Amid a surge in investments by business entities and a decisive shift towards an insurance-led framework, India's health system stands at an inflection point, making it imperative to examine the implications of this model in ensuring equitable and accessible healthcare. Enabled by a confluence of demographic shifts, an epidemiological transition, and supportive policy measures such as 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in health insurance, the healthcare landscape is becoming increasingly conducive to private sector growth. The elderly population (60+ years), as per the UN World Population Prospects, is projected to rise from 10 per cent to 30 per cent by 2050. Simultaneously, there is an upsurge in the burden of non-communicable diseases — diabetes, cancers, heart and chronic respiratory diseases — with studies showing mortality rates now accounting for over 60 per cent, up from 37 per cent in 1990. Competitive costs and a skilled workforce have made India a hub for medical tourism, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 17–19 per cent. Yet, infrastructure gaps persist, with a bed-to-population ratio of just 1.5 per 1,000 — well below the WHO norm — and with a skewed spread concentrated in metros. These supply and demand dynamics are expected to drive hospitalisation rates and tertiary care utilisation, boosting demand for specialised services, predominantly met by the private sector. The growth of corporate healthcare shares a symbiotic relationship with the expanding health insurance ecosystem, with each reinforcing the other. The National Sample Survey Office's (NSSO) 75th Round survey (2017–18) revealed that over two-thirds of OOPE in India is on outpatient care, with more than 70 per cent of outpatient services sought in the private sector. However, both PM-JAY and private health insurance schemes primarily cover hospitalisation, serving as financial buffers against catastrophic inpatient costs, while outpatient care remains largely excluded. According to NITI Aayog's Health Insurance for India's Missing Middle report, nearly 30 per cent of the population — about 400 million people — lack any form of health insurance, leaving them vulnerable to financial shocks. This cohort is a heterogeneous mix of diverse socio-economic groups, cutting across wealth quintiles. The geriatric age group — often with multiple chronic conditions — incurs substantial spending on outpatient services, medicines, and diagnostics, all largely excluded from insurance packages. Upper-income quintiles opt for private insurance packages, while lower-income quintiles rely on government-funded schemes like PM-JAY, which have capped procedure rates often significantly lower than what private insurers or cash-paying patients are charged for the same procedures. This results in differential pricing and unfair pricing practices, especially for vulnerable patients who lack the power to negotiate. With little incentive to contain costs, both insurers and providers may perpetuate a cycle of over-treatment and rising premiums, pushing even the middle class toward financial hardship. This model undermines the principles of UHC, where access should be based on need, not purchasing power. India can draw valuable lessons from global health transition models towards universalism — Japan's standardised pricing and mandatory insurance, or Thailand's tax-financed comprehensive coverage with public sector investment, among other exemplary inclusive models. The private sector has played a role in most countries; however, over-reliance without parallel public sector investment can undermine equity and long-term sustainability. According to NFHS-5 (2019–21), roughly 35 per cent of under-five children are stunted, and 57 per cent of women aged 15–49 are anaemic, reflecting broader socio-economic challenges. This underscores the need for multisectoral engagement and strategic investment in preventive and primary healthcare, targeting biomedical and socio-economic determinants. For a resilient public health system, it is imperative to reaffirm the principles of the Bhore Committee and the Alma-Ata Declaration — emphasising equitable distribution of essential healthcare and community participation, with structured and incremental investment as a higher proportion of GDP in health and social sector schemes. Equally important are stringent regulatory frameworks for drugs, diagnostics, medical devices, and corporate hospital advertising. Taking a cue from China, information technology can be leveraged to develop effective prescription audit systems to detect unnecessary medical procedures and promote rational drug use. India's public sector investment, especially in preventive and primary healthcare, needs to outpace the for-profit market trajectory to prevent widening disparities in healthcare access and outcomes. As Martin Luther King Jr said, 'Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and inhumane.' The road ahead demands inclusivity — moving away from dominant narratives and putting the invisible at the centre stage. The writer is a public health professional and social entrepreneur
Hindustan Times
27-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
How to get Ayushman Vay Vandana Card via Ayushman app
The Ayushman Vay Vandana Card under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) makes all citizens above 70 years of age elible for health insurance coverage up to ₹5 lakh. The Ayushman Vay Vandana Card was introduced in last October, using which the senior citizens who are enrolled in the scheme can avail free medical treatment in both government and private hospitals across the country, regardless of economic status. Under AB PM-JAY, which was launched in 2018, the government is now offering a special provision where senior citizens can get their Ayushman Vay Vandana Card issued via the Ayushman App or website and avail up to ₹5 lakh in free medical treatment annually. Step 1: Download the Ayushman App from Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Step 2: Log in as a beneficiary or an operator. Step 3: Enter required details such as captcha, mobile number, and mode of authentication and select Login. Step 4: Fill in the details of the beneficiary, such as state and Aadhaar card details Step 5: In case a beneficiary cannot be found, proceed with the eKYC process and provide consent for OTP. Step 6: Submit a declaration by filling required details in the necessary fields. Step 7: Add the mobile number and OTP of the beneficiary. Step 8: Enter details including category and PIN code. Step 9: Enter details of the family members and submit. Step 10: After the e-KYC is completed and approved, the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card can be downloaded. Ministry of Health in an X post had also on May 9 shared a video, saying, "Senior citizens aged 70 and above can now get their Ayushman Vay Vandana Card through the Ayushman App and access ₹5 lakh of free treatment. Watch this video to learn how to create an Ayushman Vay Vandana Card and unlock essential healthcare benefits."
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Tissue transplant will soon be done in state-run hospitals: Mizoram Health minister
Aizawl: Mizoram Health Minister Lalrinpuii on Monday said that tissue transplant will soon be done in government-run hospitals, which will mark a new chapter in the state's medical science. Inaugurating a free health check-up for scribes at the state's largest hospital - Aizawl Civil Hospital , Lalrinpuii said that a Cardiology operation theatre or Cath Lab is being installed in the civil hospital to facilitate several health facilities, which were not previously available. She said that kidney transplantation will also soon be possible in the Aizawl Civil Hospital as a designated operation theatre has been installed and license has been already obtained from the Centre. Initially, surgeons or experts from outside the state will conduct kidney transplants to train local surgeons, she said. Lalrinpuii said that an operation theatre is also being installed at the state's Zoram Medical College and Hospital (ZMCH) at Falkawn near Aizawl to facilitate open heart surgery, which will relieve people of financial burden. While an open heart surgery costs Rs 8 lakh in private hospitals, it will cost only about Rs 1.5 lakh at ZMCH, she said. The health minister also hailed Mizoram Universal Health Care Scheme (MUHCS), which was implemented on the first April, as one of the best healthcare schemes ever introduced in the state. In just a month of its implementation, the new healthcare scheme has greatly benefited the people, she claimed. The minister also urged non-salaried families or non-government employees to register under the healthcare scheme to avail health insurance of Rs 5 lakh cover per family per year. She said that a simplifying referral system has also been developed to ease the referral system of patients to empanelled hospitals outside Mizoram. Under the MUHCS, beneficiaries are provided with health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for cashless treatment at government hospitals and empanelled private hospitals and church-run hospitals. General beneficiaries can register for the healthcare scheme with a minimum fee or premium of Rs 2,500 for cashless treatment in general ward, Rs 5,000 for cashless treatment in semi-private ward or semi-cabin and Rs 10,000 for cashless treatment in private ward or cabin. Government employees, including contractual and muster-roll, are required to pay a monthly contribution ranging from Rs 200 to Rs 1,500 depending on their pay scales to avail unlimited health cover. Civil pensioners will pay a monthly contribution of Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 to avail cashless treatment in private ward and semi-private ward with heath cover of Rs 5 lakh to Rs 12 lakh. Beneficiaries or golden card holders under the Centre's AB PM-JAY scheme need not pay registration fees under MUHCS.
Mint
26-05-2025
- Health
- Mint
Ayushman Vay Vandana card: ₹5 lakh health coverage for senior citizens above 70 years
Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana, a vertical under the state-backed health protection scheme Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), offers free medical coverage for senior citizens. The Ayushman Vay Vandana Card under the scheme provides health insurance coverage up to ₹ 5 lakh for all citizens above 70 years of age. The Vay Vandana card is a health card introduced in October 2024 for senior citizens under AB PM-JAY to access the benefits of the scheme. The cardholders can avail free healthcare services, including medical treatment in both government and private hospitals. There is no income limit for the card, making individuals from all income levels to avail benefits from this scheme. Additionally, the card will cover the out-of-pocket expenses of senior citizens, according to a government statement on November 18, 2025. The Ministry of Health shared a detailed video highlighting the steps to create the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card. Check out the following steps to avail benefits under the Ayushman Vay Vandana card: Step 1: On the Play Store app, download the Ayuhsman Bharat app. Step 2: Choose the option to log in as a beneficiary or operator, depending on what is applicable. Step 3: Enter required details such as captcha, mobile number, and mode of authentication and select Login. Step 4: Fill in the details of the beneficiary, such as state and Aadhaar card details Step 5: In case a beneficiary cannot be found, proceed with the eKYC process and provide consent for OTP. Step 6: Submit a declaration by filling required details in the necessary fields. Step 7: Add the mobile number and OTP of the beneficiary. Step 8: Enter details including category and PIN code. Step 9: Enter details of the family members and submit. Step 10: After the e-KYC is completed and approved, the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card can be downloaded. For further details regarding the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card, please give a missed call to 1800 11 0770.
