Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday commemorated the eighth anniversary of the Ayushman Bharat scheme, underlining the transformative impact the flagship health initiative has had on millions of Indian households since its launch.

In his remarks, the Prime Minister noted that the programme has emerged as one of the world’s largest government-funded health assurance missions, extending crucial financial protection to economically vulnerable families who previously struggled to afford quality medical treatment.

Ayushman Bharat, rolled out eight years ago, was designed with the twin objectives of strengthening primary healthcare infrastructure through health and wellness centres while simultaneously offering substantial insurance coverage for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to poor and low-income citizens across the country.

The Prime Minister highlighted that the scheme has enabled crores of beneficiaries to access cashless treatment at empanelled hospitals, thereby shielding families from the crippling burden of medical expenses that often pushed them into debt or poverty during health emergencies.

Officials associated with the programme have pointed to steady expansion in the number of enrolled beneficiaries, hospital empanelment, and the range of medical procedures covered under the scheme over the past eight years, reflecting its growing reach in both urban and rural India.

The government has consistently positioned Ayushman Bharat as a cornerstone of its healthcare policy, aiming to achieve universal health coverage and reduce out-of-pocket expenditure on medical care, particularly for citizens from economically weaker sections and marginalised communities.

Marking the anniversary, the Prime Minister reiterated the administration’s commitment to further strengthening the scheme, expanding its coverage, and ensuring that quality healthcare remains accessible to every eligible Indian household, regardless of geographic or economic barriers.

Health ministry officials have also emphasised plans to enhance digital infrastructure supporting the scheme, streamline claim settlements, and onboard more private and public hospitals to widen the network of care available to beneficiaries in the coming years.