Need to include OPD services and diagnostics under
Ayushman Bharat Scheme (PM-JAY)-Laid
SUSHRI S. JOTHIMANI (KARUR): I wish to raise a matter of
urgent public importance regarding the expansion of Ayushman
Bharat (PM-JAY). The Parliamentary Standing Committee on
Health highlights that nearly 70% of health spending in India is on
outpatient (OPD) care, which remains excluded from PM-JAY.
This...
Need to include OPD services and diagnostics under Ayushman Bharat Scheme (PM-JAY)-Laid SUSHRI S. JOTHIMANI (KARUR): I wish to raise a matter of urgent public importance regarding the expansion of Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY). The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health highlights that nearly 70% of health spending in India is on outpatient (OPD) care, which remains excluded from PM-JAY.
This financial burden forces the poor into a debt trap, as they must pay for consultations and medicines out-of-pocket. Studies show that high OPD costs discourage people from seeking timely medical help. Consequently, many patients wait until their condition becomes life-threatening before visiting a hospital, leading to preventable deaths and higher costs for the State. I urge the Hon?ble Minister of Health and Family Welfare to include essential OPD services and diagnostics under the scheme to promote early diagnosis and ensure that no family falls into poverty due to routine medical expenses.