Lok Sabha Question No. 2148 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-12
Subject: Geriatric Care Under AB-PMJAY
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. Kalanidhi Veeraswamy

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH ANDFAMILYWELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2148 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 TH DECEMBER, 2025

## GERIATRIC CARE UNDER AB-PMJAY

## 2148. DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY:

Will the Minister of HEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) the current status of the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat scheme across the country, State-wise including Tamil nadu with specific focus on facilities and services available for geriatric care;

(b) the steps taken by the Government to enhance geriatric care under the Ayushman Bharat scheme including the establishment of specialized clinics, geriatric wards and dedicated health programmes for the elderly population in the country;

(c) the details regarding the progress and functioning of the Ayushman Arogya Mandir initiative including the number of Mandirs established, services offered and their reach among the elderly population across the country;

(d) the measures being taken by the Government to improve awareness, accessibility and quality of geriatric healthcare services through Ayushman Bharat and Ayushman Arogya Mandir; and

(e) whether the Government has any future plans/policy directives to strengthen geriatric care within the framework of Ayushman Bharat to address the health needs of the aging population in the country, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) to (e): Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is a flagship scheme of the Government which provides health cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to 12 crore families constituting economically vulnerable bottom 40% of India's population.

In March 2024, the eligibility criteria were expanded to include 37 lakh families of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA), Anganwadi Workers (AWW), Anganwadi Helpers (AWH). Further, the scheme was 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 card.

As on 31.10.2025, more than 42.31 crore Ayushman cards have been created under the scheme. Further, more than 41.34 lakh Ayushman cards have been created for the ASHA/AWW/AWH categories, and 89.51 lakh cards have been issued under the Ayushman Vay Vandana category for senior citizens and 10.76 crore hospital admissions have been authorized under the scheme. The State/UT-wise details can be accessed at the following link: https://dashboard.nha.gov.in/public/card

Under AB-PMJAY, as per the latest Health Benefit Package, the scheme provides cashless healthcare services related to 1961 procedures across 27 medical specialties including treatment services like Hemodialysis / peritoneal dialysis, acute ischemic stroke, accelerated hypertension, total hip replacement, total knee replacement, Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA), cancer etc. to eligible beneficiaries including senior citizens. Further, States have been provided flexibility to customize the Health Benefit Packages to local context. All eligible beneficiaries under AB-PMJAY can avail treatment through a network of over 32,403 public and private empanelled hospitals.

AB-PMJAY has a comprehensive media and outreach strategy to spread awareness and empower beneficiaries for their rights and entitlements. This includes advertisement over traditional media platforms including newspapers, community radio, street plays, digital displays, radio campaigns, mass messaging and telecast of beneficiary testimonials etc. In addition to this, State Health Agencies have also engaged a wide network of frontline workers i.e., ASHA, AWW who have played pivotal roles 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 at 24x7 call centre (14555) for any assistance/queries.

Further, National Health Authority has issued directions to the states to undertake extensive Information, Education and Communication activities to raise the awareness about the expansion of AB-PMJAY for all senior citizens of the age 70 years and above.

Through Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM), comprehensive primary healthcare is provided by strengthening Sub Health Centres and Primary Health Centres. These AAMs provide preventive, promotive, palliative, rehabilitative and curative care for an expanded range of services encompassing reproductive and child healthcare services, elderly care services, communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases, emergency medical services and other health issues. State/UT-wise details of operational Ayushman Arogya Mandirs is at Annexure.

Elderly care at AAM focuses on nutrition, physical activity, managing chronic diseases (diabetes, hypertension), mental well-being (depression, dementia), functional independence (mobility aids, physiotherapy), family education and linkage to higher care, promoting a healthy aging environment with accessible services, through home & community-based holistic support by ASHAs, ANMs (Auxiliary Nurse Midwifery) and CHOs (Community Health Officer). The National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly programme focus on delivery of quality geriatric-friendly services and capacity building for healthcare providers, which reflects an implicit commitment to compassionate care in delivery of healthcare services. Elderly care at Health and Wellness Centres envisages the delivery of Comprehensive Primary Health Care for elderly to emotionally enable the elderly in the community, along with improving the accessibility & affordability of health care services.

Annexure State/UT-wise details of operational Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM)

|   S.N. | State/UT                 | Operational AAMtill 30.11.25   |
|--------|--------------------------|--------------------------------|
|      1 | Andaman &Nicobar Islands | 129                            |
|      2 | Andhra Pradesh           | 11,871                         |
|      3 | Arunachal Pradesh        | 511                            |
|      4 | Assam                    | 4,961                          |
|      5 | Bihar                    | 11,426                         |
|      6 | Chandigarh               | 60                             |
|      7 | Chhattisgarh             | 5,898                          |
|      8 | Delhi                    | 221                            |
|      9 | DNH&DD                   | 95                             |
|     10 | Goa                      | 306                            |
|     11 | Gujarat                  | 10,698                         |
|     12 | Haryana                  | 3,267                          |
|     13 | Himachal Pradesh         | 2,748                          |
|     14 | Jammu &Kashmir           | 3,168                          |
|     15 | Jharkhand                | 4,154                          |
|     16 | Karnataka                | 10,124                         |
|     17 | Kerala                   | 7,169                          |
|     18 | Ladakh                   | 321                            |
|     19 | Lakshadweep              | 13                             |
|     20 | Madhya Pradesh           | 12,655                         |
|     21 | Maharashtra              | 12,846                         |
|     22 | Manipur                  | 420                            |
|     23 | Meghalaya                | 621                            |
|     24 | Mizoram                  | 412                            |
|     25 | Nagaland                 | 485                            |
|     26 | Odisha                   | 7,373                          |
|     27 | Puducherry               | 130                            |
|     28 | Punjab                   | 3,311                          |
|     29 | Rajasthan                | 12,524                         |
|     30 | Sikkim                   | 184                            |
|     31 | Tamil Nadu               | 8,496                          |
|     32 | Telangana                | 5,051                          |
|     33 | Tripura                  | 1,131                          |
|     34 | Uttar Pradesh            | 23,286                         |
|     35 | Uttarakhand              | 2,355                          |
|     36 | West Bengal              | 13,453                         |

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