India’s journey toward building a healthier nation is marked by substantial progress in healthcare access, equity, and outcomes. Over the past decade, India has implemented transformative policies and initiatives that reflect a steadfast commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage.A key milestone in this journey was the launch of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).

AB-PMJAY provides health cover of Rs. 5 lakh per eligible beneficiary family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalizations corresponding to 1,961 treatment procedures across 27 specialties. As of December 17, 2024, AB PM-JAY has made significant strides with over 36.28 crore Ayushman Cards issued, empowering millions with health coverage.Gender-wise utilization shows that Women account for 49% of the issued Ayushman cards and almost 50% of total hospital admissions, showcasing the scheme’s role in promoting gender equity in healthcare.Additionally,AB PM-JAY has successfully empaneled 30,932 hospitals across the country.

Parallelly, India's digital health infrastructure has seen remarkable advancements through the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) initiative.  ABHA Number is a hassle-free method of accessing and sharing your health records digitally. It will bridge the existing gap amongst different stakeholders of healthcare ecosystem through digital highways.The digital infrastructure supporting healthcare has also seen remarkable progress. As on 22 December 2024, over71.81 crore ABHA numbers have been generated and 46.53 crore health recordshave been linked with ABHA. In addition to this, over 3.55 Lakh health facilities have been registered on HFR and more than 5.38 lakh healthcare professionals have been registered on HPR

Another cornerstone of India's healthcare achievements is Mission Indradhanush, which has expanded immunization coverage under the Universal Immunization Programme. The campaign targets areas with low immunization rates to vaccinate left-out and dropped-out children and pregnant women.Mission Indradhanush includes a provision of 11 types of vaccines enhancing protection against preventable diseases.A total of 5.46 crore children and 1.32 crore pregnant women have been vaccinated in all phases of Mission Indradhanush conducted so far in the country.

These efforts are underscored by a remarkable improvement in key health indicators, which highlight the effectiveness of targeted healthcare strategies and interventions.Maternal Mortality Ratio reduced from 103 per 100,000 live births in 2017-2019 to 97 per 100,000 live births in 2018-20. Infant Mortality Rate reduced from 32 per 1000 live births in 2018 to 28 per 1000 live births in 2020 and Total Fertility Rate is reduced from 2.2 in 2015-16 to 2.0 in 2019-21. This progress is a testament to consumer-centric policies and initiatives supported by regular monitoring to ensure efficiency and impact.

India’s health infrastructure has witnessed transformative changes guided by visionary policies and robust implementation of initiatives like Ayushman Bharat and Mission Indradhanush. These milestones are a testament to India’s unwavering commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage and building a healthier future for all citizens. As the country continues to strengthen its health infrastructure, the foundation is being laid for a robust, inclusive, and sustainable healthcare system that prioritizes the well-being of every individual.

References

RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2514:https://sansad.in/rs/questions/questions-and-answers

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4343: https://sansad.in/ls/questions/questions-and-answers

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2085208

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2085204

https://abdm.gov.in/

https://dashboard.pmjay.gov.in/pmj/#/

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Santosh Kumar/Sarla Meena/ Madiha Iqbal

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