6 Crore Treatments, Rs 82,000 Crore Claims: Ayushman Bharat Remains Lifeline For Poor After 7 Years

Last Updated:September 23, 2025, 11:11 IST

With 32,000 empaneled hospitals and 35 crore Indians holding an Ayushman Bharat card, PM-JAY Scheme has emerged as the most significant initiative of the Modi government so far.

September 23 marks seven years of the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY Scheme that was launched in 2018. (Image: PTI)

Over 6.5 crore Indians have undergone surgeries or treatments, with the government spending nearly Rs 82,000 crore — all without people having to pay a single penny. With 32,000 empaneled hospitals and 35 crore Indians holding an Ayushman Bharat card, this has emerged as arguably the most significant and game-changing initiative of the Modi government so far.

September 23 marks seven years of the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY Scheme that was launched in 2018 with a simple aim — ensure that the poor in the country get free medical treatment in any hospital for up to Rs 5 lakh a year. In a country where medical insurance has been out of reach of the poor for decades, and those in poverty were left impoverished if a medical emergency arose, the scheme has been like a god’s gift. The numbers itself tell the story.

The top two states which have seen maximum hospital admissions under the scheme are opposition-ruled states, showing how the scheme has transcended political barriers. Tamil Nadu has seen the most hospital admissions at over 90 lakh, while Karnataka has seen 66 lakh admissions. Rajasthan saw 57 lakh admissions while Kerala saw nearly 55 lakhs. Hence, three out of the four states seeing over 50 lakh hospital admissions under the scheme are opposition-ruled.

TMC-ruled West Bengal remains the only state in the country which is not implementing the scheme.

The scheme has also been a savior for the elderly and the middle-aged population. The maximum hospital admissions have been of the 45-59 age group — nearly 1.15 crore people of this age-group availed benefits under the scheme. The next age-group are the senior citizens above 60 years of age – over one crore such Indians have taken benefit of the scheme. The Modi government last year extended the scheme for free to everyone above 70, irrespective of their income status. This was a major relief to the middle class.

Among the most availed procedures, hemodialysis has emerged as the top one showing how kidney disease is the top ailment. Over 64 lakh hospital admissions were done in the country under Ayushman Bharat for hemodialysis and the bill incurred by the government by way of claims stood at Rs 2,521 crore. Heart surgeries, putting stents in the heart, caesarian deliveries, acute febrile illness, severe anemia, hip fracture surgeries and total knee replacements were the other procedures done often under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme.

Cardiology, meanwhile, remained the top specialty when it came to amount of claims under the scheme, standing at a whopping Rs 4,222 crores, followed by general medicine at Rs 4,102 crore. Cancer treatment through medical oncology and radiation oncology also accounted for a big amount of claims at Rs 4,800 crore.

About the Author

Aman Sharma

Aman Sharma, Executive Editor – National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Minister’s Office….Read More

Aman Sharma, Executive Editor – National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Minister’s Office…. Read More

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