Lok Sabha Question No. 318 (STARRED), answered on 2025-03-21
Subject: Ayushman Vay Vandana Cards
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Dhaval Laxmanbhai Patel, Shri Mahesh Kashyap

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 318 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST MARCH, 2025

## AYUSHMAN VAY VANDANACARDS

## *318. SHRI DHAVAL LAXMANBHAI PATEL: SHRI MAHESH KASHYAP:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE to be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any plans to expand the scope of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to include additional healthcare benefits or services in the future;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the measures put in place to ensure that the benefits of Ayushman Vay Vandana Cards reach the most vulnerable sections of the population particularly in rural and underserved areas of Valsad, Dang and Navsari Parliamentary Constituencies of Gujarat?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)

- (a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHASTARRED QUESTION NO. 318 FOR 21 ST MARCH,

……

Ayushman Bharat -Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is a flagship scheme of the Government which provides health cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to approximately 55 crore beneficiaries corresponding to 12.37 crore families constituting economically vulnerable bottom 40% of India's population. Recently, the scheme has been expanded to cover 6 crore senior citizens of age 70 years and above belonging to 4.5 crore families irrespective of their socio-economic status through Ayushman Vay Vandana cards.

Under AB-PMJAY, the health benefit packages have been revised five times since launch of the scheme. Initially, the scheme included 1,359 packages, but the Health Benefit Package (HBP) 2022 now comprises 1,961 packages across 27 medical specialties. A total of 365 new treatment procedures have been added and the rates for 832 packages have been increased. Highend procedures such as bone marrow transplants and cochlear implant surgeries have been introduced in addition to the already covered kidney transplants. Further, States have been provided flexibility to further customize the Health Benefit Packages to local context.

There is a comprehensive media and outreach strategy to spread awareness about ABPMJAY especially in rural and underserved areas. This includes advertisement over traditional media platforms including newspapers, community radio, street plays, digital displays, radio campaigns, mass messaging and telecast of beneficiary testimonials via Doordarshan etc. In addition to this, State Health Agencies have also engaged the wide network of frontline workers i.e., ASHAs, AWWs and VLEs (Village Level Entrepreneurs) who are pivotal in creating mass awareness at the grassroot level. In addition to this, the Ayushman Vay Vandana card beneficiaries may give a missed call to helpline number 1800-110-770 or call to 24x7 call centre (14555) for any assistance/queries.

Further, the government has issued directions to the States to undertake extensive IEC activities to raise the awareness about the expansion of AB-PMJAY for all senior citizens of the age 70 years and above.

As on 17.03.2025, more than 53 lakh Ayushman Vay Vandana beneficiaries have been enrolled under the scheme, including 19,665 in Valsad district, 612 in Dang district, and 7,146 in Navsari district of Gujarat.

*****