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Beyond pregnancy: Indian women gain health entitlement
17 Oct
Summary
- India's AB PM-JAY scheme offers ₹5 lakh yearly for cashless secondary/tertiary care.
- Scheme covers all family members, removing previous limits excluding women.
- It treats women's health as an independent right, not linked to reproductive roles.
Many Indian women historically endured illnesses silently as their health needs were sidelined in household budgets. Prioritizing education and male family members' needs, women's healthcare often ranked last.
The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) has initiated a systemic change by setting no family size limit on coverage. Unlike prior schemes that excluded women by capping coverage, AB PM-JAY offers cashless secondary and tertiary care up to ₹5 lakh per year to every eligible family member.
This initiative redefines a woman's access to healthcare, shifting it from a role tied to reproduction to an independent entitlement. While routine maternal care remains under separate programs, AB PM-JAY now covers high-risk pregnancies and gynecological conditions, offering dignity and direct impact on timely treatment.
The scheme extends coverage to frontline health workers like ASHA and anganwadi workers, recognizing their crucial role. Although structural challenges persist, AB PM-JAY has dismantled a significant barrier by addressing treatment expenses, transforming a health insurance initiative into a vehicle for social dignity.
