Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya declared at the closing session of the two-day Arogya Manthan 2023 that the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) scheme, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi five years ago, aimed not only to ensure the health of citizens but also to alleviate the financial burden of healthcare expenses.
During the event, which celebrated five years of Ayushman Bharat PMJAY and two years of Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission, several dignitaries were present, including Prof. S P Singh Baghel, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare; Keshab Mahanta, Health Minister of Assam; and Dr. V K Paul, Member (Health) at NITI Aayog.
Mandaviya highlighted the program’s transformative impact, with over 5.6 crore hospital admissions totaling more than Rs. 69,000 crore. He emphasized that many of these admissions were for life-threatening conditions, with treatment costs significantly lower within the framework of AB PMJAY.
At the conclusion of the Arogya Manthan 2023 event, the Union Health Minister recognized the top-performing States and Union Territories across various categories related to ABPMJAY and Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.
Mandaviya stressed the importance of placing women at the forefront of the national healthcare conversation, noting that nearly half of Ayushman card recipients were females. He also announced two new initiatives, Aapke Dwar Ayushman (ADA 3.0) and the ‘Ayushman Bhav’ campaign, aimed at expanding healthcare coverage.
Regarding the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, launched in September 2021, Mandaviya highlighted its progress, with over 45 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA) generated and linked to more than 30 crore health records, enhancing healthcare delivery through digital technologies.
The event also featured the felicitation of Karishma, the country’s first beneficiary of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
Minister of State SP Singh Baghel underscored the role of information technology in achieving accessible healthcare nationwide and outlined plans for widespread connectivity through high-speed optical fiber in every village.
Dr. VK Paul urged greater private sector participation in AB PM-JAY and ABDM, emphasizing strategic medical equipment purchases to reduce treatment costs.
