1Student of Masters of Hospital Administration, Uttaranchal College of Health Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. Orcid ID: 0009-0009-3320-9699, Email ID: raltezonunpari1@gmail.com
2*Student of Master of Hospital Administration, Uttaranchal College of Health Sciences, Uttaranchal University Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. Orcid ID: 0009-0002-7589-5278, Email ID: ayushrn75@gmail.com
3Student of Master of Hospital Administration, Uttaranchal College of Health Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. ORCID: 0009-0000-4822-4458, Email ID: dikshachetry5@gmail.com
4Student of Master of Hospital Administration, Uttaranchal College of Health Sciences, Uttaranchal University Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. Orcid ID: 0009-0008-3473-2097, Email ID: amritanshupandey128@gmail.com
5Assistant Professor, Uttaranchal College of Health Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand India. ORCID: 0009-0006-4248-3487, Email ID: shivshankartiwari@gmail.com
6Assistant Professor, Uttaranchal College of Health Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. ORCID: 0009-0009-0220-0456, Phone No: +91 97561 89726, Email ID: gopal4god11@gmail.com
Background: For decades, rural India has been ensnared in a "medical poverty trap," characterized by a skeletal public health infrastructure and catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE). The 2018 launch of Ayushman Bharat, comprising Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) and the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), signaled a paradigm shift from fragmented "sick-care" to a rights-based health assurance model.
Aim: This evaluative study aims to assess the impact of Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) on financial protection and structural accessibility in rural India over the period 2018–2025, analyzing its effectiveness in bridging the rural healthcare divide.
Methods: A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative analysis of PM-JAY claims data, household surveys on OOPE, and qualitative interviews with beneficiaries and healthcare providers across selected rural districts. The study evaluated key indicators including reduction in catastrophic health expenditure, utilization rates of secondary and tertiary care, and improvements in healthcare infrastructure accessibility.
Results: Preliminary findings indicate a significant reduction in OOPE among enrolled households, with PM-JAY covering over 10.74 crore families across India. Structural accessibility improved through the establishment of 1.6 lakh Health and Wellness Centres, providing comprehensive primary healthcare services. However, challenges persist regarding awareness levels, empanelment of private facilities in remote areas, and timely claim settlements.
Conclusion: Ayushman Bharat has demonstrated measurable progress in reducing financial hardship and expanding healthcare access in rural India. Sustained policy focus on strengthening infrastructure, enhancing awareness, and improving service delivery mechanisms is essential to fully realize the vision of universal health coverage.
Keywords: Ayushman Bharat, PM-JAY, Rural Healthcare, Financial Protection, Structural Accessibility, Health Insurance, Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE), Healthcare Infrastructure, Health Assurance Model, Medical Poverty Trap
How to cite this article: Zonunpari Ralte, Ayush Rana, Diksha Chetry, Rajkumar Amritanshu, Shivshankar Tiwari, Gopal Ram "Bridging the Rural Healthcare Divide: An Evaluative Study of Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) on Financial Protection and Structural Accessibility in India (2018–2025)" Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(12s): 557-560. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.12s.67.
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None