Union Health Minister J P Nadda has said that providing affordable and quality healthcare to every poor person in the country is a priority of the central government. Mr Nadda said this while chairing a breakaway session titled “Promoting Swasth Bharat through Ayushman Bharat PM Jan Arogya Yojana and Ayushman Arogya Mandir” during the Civil Services Day celebrations in New Delhi today. Mr Nadda highlighted that the government’s expenditure on healthcare has increased from 29 percent in 2014 to 48 percent now, leading to a decline in out-of-pocket expenditure for people. He stated that the screening of communicable and non-communicable diseases in Ayushman Arogya Mandir and expanding the package of services has helped in providing preventive and promotive healthcare.

The health minister said that health facilities are being encouraged to undertake self-assessment under the Indian Public Health Standards 2022 and National Quality Assurance Standards. He stated that while there has been tremendous progress in healthcare in the last 10 years, the government is committed to providing affordable, accessible, equitable and quality healthcare for all.

Speaking on the occasion, Member, Health, NITI Aayog, Dr V K Paul, highlighted that due to the implementation of AB PMJAY, the out-of-pocket expenditure has decreased from 64 percent in 2013-14 to 39.4% in 2021-22.