The Future of Health Insurance in India: A Case of Ayushman Bharat

Abstract

Introduction: In 2017, the National Health Policy recom-mended the introduction of Ayushman Bharat to promote Universal Health Coverage (UHC), with the aim of provid-ing comprehensive, need-based, and equitable healthcare services to the Indian population. The scheme comprises two primary components: the creation of 1,50,000 Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) and the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY). These initiatives aim to enhance infrastructure related to comprehensive primary healthcare, maternal and child health-care, non-communicable diseases, and improved drug de-livery and diagnostic services. Out of 28 states and 8 Union territories in India, Delhi, Odisha, and West Bengal have not implemented the AB-PMJAY scheme. Telangana joined the scheme in May 2021, and each state has adopted different models to accommodate their healthcare requirements. Objective: The study elicits the various aspects of Ayush-man Bharat, the scheme’s evolution throughout different timelines and its future prospects. Conclusion: The Ayushman Bharat scheme has played an enormous role in achieving comprehensive healthcare sys-tem by leveraging various technologies and digital health methods. During the pandemic, the rates of utilization have changed, and Ayushman Bharat is anticipated to contribute significantly to achieve UHC in the future.