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Ayushman Bharat: Grand Promises, Harsh Reality on the Ground

Ayushman Bharat promised free healthcare to millions, but on-the-ground reality reveals significant gaps in delivery, leaving many families without the support they were promised.

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Ayushman Bharat

Ayushman Bharat: Grand Promises, Harsh Reality on the Ground \ Photo courtesy: The Probe staff

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Ayushman Bharat: Promises vs. Real-World Impact

Imran Haider, a 30-year-old native of Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh, works in an event management firm. Despite his mother possessing an Ayushman Bharat card for the past four to five years, Imran asserts that she has never received any aid through the scheme. "My mother has had this card for years, but whenever we try to use it, we are either turned away or told that the benefits do not apply," Imran claimed, expressing his frustration with the system.

Imran Haider
Imran Haider | Photo courtesy: The Probe staff

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The Ayushman Bharat Yojana was launched with the ambitious goal of providing free health insurance coverage to low-income earners across India. Positioned as a key element of the Indian government's National Health Policy, the program aimed to cover roughly the bottom 50% of the population. Announced in the 2018 Union budget and approved by the Union Council of Ministers shortly thereafter, the scheme was heralded as a game-changer in addressing the nation's healthcare crisis.

During his Independence Day speech in 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that the Ayushman Bharat Yojana would be a landmark initiative, promising health coverage to 10 crore households, or approximately 50 crore individuals. The program offers a cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year for medical treatment in empaneled hospitals, encompassing both public and private institutions. It is designed to be inclusive, with no restrictions on family size, age, or gender, and covers all pre-existing medical conditions.

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However, despite its promising framework, the scheme's real-world impact remains questionable. Our investigation has uncovered significant discrepancies between the scheme's objectives and its implementation. While the Indian government described how over six crore citizens were pushed into poverty annually due to out-of-pocket medical expenses, the question now arises: is the Ayushman Bharat Yojana truly serving its intended purpose?

The challenges begin with access; many eligible families struggle to even obtain the card. For those who do manage to secure it, accessing the promised services remains a formidable challenge. This disconnect between policy and practice raises concerns about the efficacy of the program and whether it is genuinely alleviating the healthcare burden on India's most vulnerable populations.

Jag Mohan's Struggle: A Tale of Unfulfilled Promises

Jag Mohan, a resident of Madhya Pradesh, is one of the many who hold an Ayushman Bharat card, but his experience reveals the stark gap between the scheme's promises and its actual delivery. Despite his wife suffering from severe ailments, Jag Mohan has been forced to pay out-of-pocket for her treatment. "I have taken my wife to many hospitals, showing them the card, but they don't accept it," he laments. "Some say this card isn't valid at their hospital, while others acknowledge it but never reimburse us. All this time, I've been paying from my own pocket."

When questioned about the government's assurance that the Ayushman Bharat scheme offers ₹5 lakh in coverage per family per year for treatment at empaneled hospitals, including both public and private institutions, Jag Mohan expressed his frustration. "I know

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