**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 1019 in Lok Sabha, to be answered on December 5, 2025, regarding the coverage of mental health treatment under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). The response details the packages available, implementation of mental health programs, the status of Tele MANAS services, and steps taken to ensure compliance with the Mental Health Care Act, 2017. A key deadline mentioned is October 31, 2025, regarding data on hospital admissions authorized under AB-PMJAY for mental health.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **AB-PMJAY Coverage:**
* The Health Benefit Package under AB-PMJAY provides cashless healthcare services for 1,961 procedures across 27 medical specialties.
* This includes 22 procedures under the Mental Disorders specialty.
* States have flexibility to customize Health Benefit Packages.
* As of October 31, 2025, over 2.27 lakh hospital admissions worth Rs. 241.57 crore have been authorized for mental health conditions under AB-PMJAY.
* **National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) and District Mental Health Programme (DMHP):**
* The Government is implementing the NMHP, with the DMHP sanctioned for implementation in 767 districts supported by the National Health Mission.
* DMHP provides services at Community Health Centres (CHC) and Primary Health Centres (PHC), including outpatient services, assessment, counseling, and continuing care.
* The programme includes a provision for 10-bedded in-patient facilities at the district level.
* Objectives include suicide prevention, mental health services, capacity building, and community awareness.
* **Centres of Excellence (CoE):**
* 25 Centres of Excellence have been sanctioned to increase the intake of students in PG departments in mental health specialties under Manpower Development Scheme-A.
* The Government also supported 19 Government medical colleges/institutions to strengthen 47 PG Departments in mental health specialties under Manpower Development Scheme-B.
* **Tele MANAS Services:**
* A "National Tele Mental Health Programme" was launched on October 10, 2022, to improve access to mental health services.
* As of November 27, 2025, 36 States/UTs have set up 53 Tele-MANAS Cells.
* Services are available in 20 languages.
* Over 29,82,000 calls have been handled on the helpline.
* A Tele MANAS Mobile Application was launched on October 10, 2024 (World Mental Health Day).
* A video consultation facility has been introduced as an upgrade.
* **Compliance with Mental Health Care Act, 2017:**
* IRDAI issued a Master Circular on Health Insurance Business on May 29, 2024, requiring insurers to provide wider choices, including products catering to all types of existing medical conditions.
* Insurers are mandated to make available products in compliance with the Mental Health Care Act, 2017, ensuring coverage for mental illness.
**Impact Analysis**
**Beneficiaries of AB-PMJAY**
*Impact:* Beneficiaries gain access to cashless healthcare services for mental health disorders under the AB-PMJAY scheme.
*Action Required:* Utilise the available health services for mental health treatment under AB-PMJAY.
**State Governments/UTs**
*Impact:* State Governments and UTs are supported financially and logistically to implement the DMHP. Additionally, States have flexibility to customize Health Benefit Packages under AB-PMJAY.
*Action Required:* Ensure the effective implementation of DMHP in their respective districts and utilize the flexibility to customize health benefit packages for local context.
**Healthcare Professionals**
*Impact:* The NMHP and DMHP provides healthcare professionals with additional resources, training, and support for delivering mental healthcare services.
*Action Required:* Participate in training programs, provide mental healthcare services under NMHP, and DMHP guidelines.
**Insurance Companies**
*Impact:* Insurance companies are required to offer health insurance products that cover mental illnesses, ensuring compliance with the Mental Health Care Act, 2017, and IRDAI regulations.
*Action Required:* Develop and offer health insurance products that comply with the Mental Health Care Act, 2017, and IRDAI Master Circular, providing coverage for mental illnesses.
Key Entities Referenced
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY): A health insurance scheme providing cashless healthcare services, including those for mental health treatment.
National Mental Health Programme (NMHP): A nationwide program to address the burden of mental disorders, including the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP).
District Mental Health Programme (DMHP): A component of the NMHP implemented at the district level, providing mental health services and facilities.
Tele MANAS: A national tele-mental health program providing counselling and care services through Tele MANAS Cells and a mobile application.
Mental Health Care Act, 2017: A law mandating compliance in health insurance policies, including coverage for mental health conditions.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH ANDFAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 1019
TOBE ANSWERED ON05TH DECEMBER, 2025
PACKAGES COVERED UNDERAB-PMJAYFORMENTALHEALTH
TREATMENT
1019. SHRINAVEENJINDAL:
Will the Minister of HEALTHAND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleased tostate:
(a) the number of packages covered under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya
Yojana (AB-PMJAY) for mental health treatment and the impact of these services on
beneficiariesacross the country;
(b) the details of the implementation of the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP)
under the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) and the number of districts covered
bythisprogramme across the country;
(c) the number of Centres of Excellence established under the tertiary care component of
NMHPandtheirrole inincreasing postgraduate intake inmentalhealthspecialities;
(d) the status of Tele MANAS services, including the number of operational Tele MANAS
Cells, calls handled and the impact of the recently launched Tele MANAS Mobile
Application;and
(e)the steps takenbythe Government toensure compliancewith the Mental HealthCare Act,
2017, in health insurance policies including the coverage of mental health conditions by
insurers?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATEIN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTHAND
FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAOJADHAV)
(a): Under Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), the latest
national master of the Health Benefit Package provides cashless healthcareservices for 1,961
proceduresacross 27medicalspecialties, including22 proceduresunderthe Mental Disorders
specialty, such as Intellectual Disability, Schizophrenia, Schizotypal and Delusional
Disorders, and Autism Spectrum Disorder, among others. Further, States have been provided
flexibility to further customize the Health Benefit Packages to local context. As on
31.10.2025, more than 2.27 lakh hospital admissions worth Rs. 241.57 crore have been
authorizedfor mental healthdisorder conditionsunderthe scheme.(b) to (e): To address the burden of mental disorders, the Government of India is
implementing the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) in the country. The District
Mental Health Programme (DMHP) component of the NMHP has been sanctioned for
implementation in 767 districts for which support is provided to States/UTs through the
National Health Mission. Facilities made available under DMHP at the Community Health
Centre(CHC)andPrimaryHealthCentre(PHC)levels, inter-alia,includeoutpatientservices,
assessment, counselling/ psycho-social interventions, continuing care and support to persons
with severe mental disorders, drugs, outreach services, ambulance services etc. In addition,
there is a provision of 10 bedded in-patient facility at the District level. The objectives of
DMHPare:
i. to provide suicide prevention services, work place stress management, life skills
trainingandcounselling in schools andcolleges.
ii. to provide mental health services including prevention, promotion and long-term
continuingcare at different levelsof district healthcare deliverysystem.
iii. to augment institutional capacity in terms of infrastructure, equipment and human
resource for mentalhealthcare.
iv. to promote community awareness and participation in the delivery of mental
healthcareservices.
Under the tertiary care component of NMHP, under Manpower Development Scheme-A, 25
Centres of Excellence have been sanctioned to increase the intake of students in PG
departments in mental health specialities as well as to provide tertiary level treatment
facilities. Further, the Government has also supported 19 Government medical
colleges/institutions to strengthen 47 PG Departments in mental health specialties under
Manpower DevelopmentScheme-B.
The Government has launched a “National Tele Mental Health Programme” on10th October,
2022, to further improve access to quality mental health counselling and care services in the
country. As on 27.11.2025, 36 States/ UTs have set up 53 Tele MANAS Cells. Tele-MANAS
services are available in 20 languages based on language opted by States. More than
29,82,000callshave beenhandled on the helpline number.
The Government has also launched Tele MANAS Mobile Application on the occasion of
World Mental Health Day - October 10, 2024. Tele-MANAS Mobile Application is a
comprehensive mobile platform that has been developed to provide support for mental health
issues ranging from well-being to mental disorders. In addition, a video consultation facility
hasbeenintroducedunderTele-MANAS, asanupgrade tothe existing audiocalling service.
Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has issued Master
Circular on Health Insurance Business dated 29.05.2024, vide which insurers are required to
provide wider choice to policyholders by offering products catering to all types of existing
medical conditions; pre-existing diseases and chronic conditions. Insurers are also mandated
to make available products in compliance with the provisions of Mental Health Care Act,
2017. In line with the above provisions, products are available in the market providing
coverage for mentalillness asperthe respective product design of the insurers.
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