New Delhi: HL August 08, 2026
The Central Government has reaffirmed its commitment to making healthcare more affordable by expanding health insurance coverage, improving public health infrastructure, and increasing access to free medicines and diagnostic services across the country.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, multiple flagship programmes are being implemented to reduce the financial burden of medical treatment on households. These include the National Health Mission (NHM), Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), and Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).
As part of these efforts, more than 1.87 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have been made operational nationwide, providing comprehensive primary healthcare services. These centres offer preventive, promotive, curative, palliative, and rehabilitative care, covering maternal and child health, communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases, and other essential medical services.
To further reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses, the government has expanded its Free Drugs Service Initiative and Free Diagnostics Service Initiative, ensuring essential medicines and diagnostic tests are available at public healthcare facilities. Financial assistance is also being provided to states and Union Territories for supplying hundreds of essential medicines at different levels of the healthcare system.
Affordable generic medicines continue to be distributed through Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) stores, while AMRIT Pharmacies are supplying medicines and medical implants at reduced prices in selected hospitals.
Under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, more than 12 crore economically vulnerable families receive annual health insurance coverage of ₹5 lakh per family for secondary and tertiary hospital treatment. The scheme has also been expanded through Ayushman Vay Vandana, extending the same health cover to 6 crore senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their socio-economic background.
The government said these initiatives are aimed at ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare while significantly lowering the financial burden of medical treatment on Indian households.
