India, Sept. 23 -- When Ayushman Bharat (AB) PM-JAY was launched from Ranchi in 2018, it marked the beginning of a new era in healthcare access. By extending the Rs.5-lakh annual health cover to vulnerable families and enabling cashless transactions, it enabled paperless treatment across the country. I recall Prime Minister Narendra Modi's words from that day. "No one in the country should be deprived of quality healthcare only because they cannot afford it," he said.

We have made tremendous progress in translating the Prime Minister's ambitious vision into reality. In this short period, the scheme has become the lifeline of our most vulnerable brothers and sisters across the country. The scheme is being implemented nationwide, with the ...