Fri Jan 31 10:59:48 UTC 2025: **India’s Healthcare Initiatives Show Significant Progress, Economic Survey Reveals**
NEW DELHI, January 31, 2025 – India’s healthcare system has made significant strides, according to the Economic Survey 2024-25, tabled in Parliament today. The flagship Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) health insurance scheme has resulted in over ₹1.25 lakh crore in savings through reduced out-of-pocket expenditure.
As of January 1st, 2025, over 36.36 crore Ayushman cards have been issued, covering approximately 55 crore individuals – making it the world’s largest health assurance scheme. The scheme provides up to ₹5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary care, benefiting the most vulnerable 40% of the population.
The Survey highlights a marked increase in government health spending from 29% to 48% of total health expenditure between FY15 and FY22, concurrent with a decrease in out-of-pocket expenditure from 62.6% to 39.4%. This demonstrates progress towards universal health coverage and alleviates financial hardship for households.
Other successful initiatives mentioned include the free dialysis scheme benefiting 25 lakh people, and the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP), achieving 93.5% full immunisation coverage for FY24. The Jan Aushadhi scheme, providing affordable medicines through over 14,000 centers nationwide, also reported record sales in 2024. Despite challenges, the scheme has improved access to low-cost drugs, particularly for low-income groups. The Survey concludes that these initiatives align with India’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.
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