Ayushman Bharat Expansion and Digital Healthcare Growth in 2025

The year in 2025 marked a turning point for India’s public healthcare system. With Odisha and Delhi joining Ayushman Bharat – PMJAY, digital health platforms scaled up rapidly. Various Technology, insurance coverage, and disease control came together to strengthen healthcare delivery at the grassroots level.

Expansion of Ayushman Bharat PMJAY

• The flagship health insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana expanded further in 2025.
• Both Odisha and Delhi signed Memorandums of Understanding with the Union Health Ministry for implementation.
• With this, West Bengal remains the only state outside PMJAY.

As of December 1, 2025,

• 42.48 crore Ayushman cards have been created since 2018
• 10.98 crore hospital admissions authorized
• Claims worth ₹1.60 lakh crore approved

This expansion strengthened India’s move towards universal health coverage.

Boost to Digital Healthcare Delivery

Digital healthcare saw robust growth due to focused government support.

eSanjeevani Telemedicine

• The eSanjeevani telemedicine platform emerged as a key driver.
• It provided over 43.2 crore free tele consultations across India.
• About 57% of beneficiaries were women, improving gender access to healthcare.
• The platform enabled specialist consultations in rural and remote areas.

Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)

• The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission gained wide acceptance in 2025.
• Citizens increasingly adopted digital health records for easy sharing with doctors.

Key data till December 26, 2025,

• 84.35 crore ABHA accounts created
• 12.09 crore accounts added in 2025 alone
• 80.66 crore health records linked with ABHA
• 35.52 crore records linked during 2025

This marked a shift towards a paperless, interoperable health ecosystem.

Senior Citizens Coverage: Ayushman Vay Vandana

In October 2024, the government expanded PMJAY benefits for senior citizens.

Under Ayushman Vay Vandana cards, all citizens aged 70 years and above are eligible for free treatment up to ₹5 lakh per year, irrespective of income.

By 2025,

• 94.19 lakh senior citizens enrolled
• This move strengthened elderly healthcare security.

Ayushman App and Technology Use

The Ayushman App, developed by the National Health Authority was launched to simplify access.

It allows self-verification and Ayushman card creation using,

• Face authentication
• OTP
• Iris scan
• Fingerprint

This ensured last mile digital inclusion, even through basic mobile devices.

Progress Under TB Free India Campaign

India’s fight against tuberculosis gained global recognition.

The WHO Global TB Report 2025 highlighted major progress.

Key achievements,

• TB incidence declined by 21% (2015-2024)
• TB deaths reduced by 25% in the same period
• Treatment coverage rose from 53% (2015) to 92% (2024)
• Missing TB cases reduced from 10 lakh (2015) to <1 lakh (2024)

The 100 Days TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, launched in December 2024, was expanded nationwide using a whole of government and whole-of-society approach.

AI-Driven Healthcare Reforms

The Health Ministry launched AI driven healthcare reforms in 2025.

Three Centres of Excellence for AI in Healthcare were established at,

• AIIMS Delhi
• PGIMER Chandigarh
• AIIMS Rishikesh

AI tools introduced included,

• Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) with eSanjeevani
• AI based disease surveillance
• AI tools for TB detection and diabetic retinopathy screening
• These initiatives improved efficiency, accuracy, and early diagnosis.

Key Takeaways

• Odisha and Delhi joined AB-PMJAY in 2025
• 42.48 crore Ayushman cards issued since 2018
• 43.2 crore tele-consultations via eSanjeevani
• 84.35 crore ABHA accounts created
• TB incidence and deaths declined significantly
• AI integrated into public healthcare delivery

Question

Q2. Which two states joined Ayushman Bharat – PMJAY in 2025?

A. Bihar and Jharkhand
B. Odisha and Delhi
C. Kerala and Tamil Nadu
D. Punjab and Haryana