Treatment for 112 diseases under Ayushman Yojana to be available only in government hospitals

Rules regarding the treatment of certain specific diseases under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) may undergo changes, due to which preparations are underway to make packages for 112 types of diseases available only in government hospitals, according to a report by TV9 Gujarati.

The National Health Authority (NHA) has issued instructions to the health authorities of all states regarding this by writing a letter. So far, 23 treatment packages were reserved for government hospitals, but there is now a plan to add another 89 packages to them. This new list will be implemented in the Transaction Management System (TMS) from 1 December 2026. For this, states must complete the necessary process by 1 December 2026.

These 112 packages include gynecology, general surgery, mental illness, general medicine, bone-related diseases, ear-nose-throat, and eye diseases. Beneficiaries can receive cover up to ₹5 lakh for these treatments. If this decision is implemented, the free treatment facility available in private hospitals under these related packages may be discontinued.

The main objective of this arrangement is to increase treatment facilities in government hospitals and to control government expenditure incurred on private hospitals. The government wants as many patients as possible to receive treatment in government health institutions only. For this purpose, the availability of sufficient specialist doctors, operation theatres, and necessary medical equipment in government hospitals is also being examined.

According to the letter sent by National Health Authority Deputy Secretary Dr. Shailesh, the final decision on whether to implement this arrangement will lie with the states. If state governments wish, they can continue these packages in private hospitals as well. This arrangement is currently partially implemented in several states, including Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu, and there is now an attempt to make it uniform across the country. In Uttarakhand, a meeting has been held with hospital officials to seek details regarding this.

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana is the national public health insurance scheme of the Government of India. Its aim is to provide free health insurance coverage to the lower-income people of the country, who constitute approximately the bottom 50% of the country's population. This scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September 2018.