SRINAGAR: Jammu Kashmir has witnessed significant expansion in healthcare coverage under the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), the Government of India’s flagship health insurance scheme, aimed at providing financial protection for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation to the economically vulnerable.
According to data tabled in the Rajya Sabha by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 6,70,010 families in Jammu Kashmir have been registered under AB-PMJAY since its inception in September 2018. The central government has released Rs 331.91 crore for the Union Territory over this period, marking a steady flow of resources to ensure access to quality healthcare for families in need.
The scheme, which provides health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year, is demand-driven, with funds released based on actual claims and utilization. Over the years, Jammu Kashmir has integrated AB-PMJAY with state health infrastructure, enabling hospitals across districts to provide cashless treatment for eligible beneficiaries.
While Jammu Kashmir accounts for a moderate share of national coverage, the data highlights that both rural and urban populations are benefiting from the scheme, with access extended to families in remote districts, including those in far-flung areas such as the high-altitude regions of Kargil and Leh. In neighbouring Ladakh, a smaller population of 12,120 families has been enrolled under AB-PMJAY, with Rs 7.94 crore released for implementation since the scheme’s rollout.
Health officials note that AB-PMJAY has helped mitigate out-of-pocket expenditure, especially for critical illnesses requiring prolonged hospitalization, including cardiac, cancer, and renal treatments. The scheme also complements other initiatives such as the Ayushman Vay Vandana, which extends coverage to senior citizens above 70 years regardless of socio-economic status, further broadening the social safety net.
Nationally, AB-PMJAY has emerged as a lifeline for over 12 crore families in India, with special expansions in 2024 covering 37 lakh families of ASHA, Anganwadi workers, and helpers, and an additional 6 crore senior citizens through the Ayushman Vay Vandana card. However, the scheme’s impact in Jammu Kashmir is particularly notable given the Union Territory’s challenging terrain and historically limited access to tertiary healthcare facilities.
