The Government has undertaken a range of measures to reduce Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) on healthcare by expanding access to free and affordable health services, strengthening healthcare infrastructure, and providing financial protection to households across the country.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) supplements the efforts of the States and Union Territories (UTs) in expanding affordable healthcare services and strengthening healthcare infrastructure across the country, through various Centrally Sponsored Schemes and Central Sector Schemes. Towards this end, MoHFW is implementing schemes such as National Health Mission (NHM), Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), Pradhan Mantri- Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).

Under the NHM, the Government has taken many steps towards universal health coverage by supporting the State Governments in providing accessible and affordable healthcare to people. 1.87 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM) have been operationalized across the country to deliver the expanded range of comprehensive primary healthcare services that include preventive, promotive, curative, palliative and rehabilitative services. These include reproductive and child healthcare services, communicable and non-communicable diseases, and a wide array of other health concerns.

National Free Drugs Service Initiative and Free Diagnostics Service Initiative have been rolled out to ensure availability of essential drugs and diagnostic facilities, and reduce Out- of-Pocket Expenditure of the patients visiting public health facilities. This includes financial support to States/UTs for 113 drugs at AAM-Sub Health Centres, 179 at AAM-Primary Health Centres, 301 at Community Health Centres, 318 at Sub- District Hospitals and 381 at District Hospitals. Besides, quality generic medicines are made available at affordable prices to all, under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) in collaboration with the State Governments. Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) Pharmacy stores have been set up in some hospitals/institutions.

In addition, Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) provides health cover of ₹5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to more than 12 crore families constituting the economically vulnerable bottom 40% of India’s population. States/UTs implementing AB PM-JAY have further expanded the beneficiary base, at their own cost. Further, the scheme has been expanded to cover 6 crore senior citizens of age 70 years and above belonging to 4.5 crore families irrespective of their socio- economic status under AB PM-JAY with Vay Vandana Card.

The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Anupriya Patel, stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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