Context
In India, over 40 per cent of healthcare expenses are paid out-of-pocket – one of the highest rates worldwide. This drives more than 60 million Indians into poverty every year. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the critical need for robust and universal healthcare systems. Although several systems for social protection in case of illness exist, they lack adequate coordination, leading to overlaps and untapped potential.
To address these challenges, the Ayushman Bharat initiative was launched in 2018. An important component is the world’s largest state-funded health insurance programme, Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), which provides insurance coverage to over 500 million families. By leveraging a network of more than 30,000 authorised hospitals, it reduces the risk of poverty for low-income families, who are no longer reliant on their own financial resources.
Objective
The introduction of the state-funded health insurance scheme AB PM-JAY has improved the conditions for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in India.
Approach
The project advances the expansion of UHC in India by:
• Providing conceptual and technical guidance to the National Health Authority;
• Strategically and technically advising health authorities in the states of Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir, and Chhattisgarh;
• Improving the digitalisation of the healthcare system and promoting equitable access to PM-JAY.