New Delhi, September 2025: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance has urged the Centre to adopt a decentralised approach under the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to bridge healthcare accessibility gaps, particularly in underserved regions.

Highlighting the scheme’s critical role in expanding affordable healthcare, the panel suggested leveraging mobile health units and telemedicine hubs, especially in tribal and hilly areas, to enhance last-mile reach and impact.

AB-PMJAY, the government’s flagship health insurance programme, provides coverage of ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. The scheme currently benefits nearly 550 million people, covering 123.7 million families that form the bottom 40% of India’s population.

According to official data, 419.7 million Ayushman cards have been issued across 27 states and eight Union Territories. The scheme’s expansion is complemented by the broader National Health Mission (NHM) initiatives, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, National Ambulance Services, and the Universal Immunisation Programme.

As of August 2025, more than 178,000 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) – health and wellness centres providing primary care – are operational across the country.

Beyond service delivery, the committee also emphasised the importance of linking health with employment by strengthening school and college-based health education programmes on nutrition, fitness, and mental well-being under campaigns like Fit India and Eat Right.

The recommendations form part of the committee’s report, “A Roadmap for Indian Economic Growth in Light of Global Economic and Geopolitical Circumstances.”