PMJAY in Rural India: Launched on September 23, 2018, as part of the Ayushman Bharat initiative, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) aims to provide financial protection and equitable healthcare to over 55 crore people—India’s most vulnerable populations. With rural India housing nearly 64% of the country’s population (World Bank, 2023), the scheme’s success hinges on its ability to penetrate these underserved regions. As of March 2025, PMJAY is making significant strides in rural India, particularly in delivering critical care like cancer treatments, yet it faces hurdles that demand attention. Let’s check out how PMJAY is functioning in rural areas, backed by facts, figures, and recent reports
PMJAY: A Lifeline for Rural Healthcare
PMJAY offers up to Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization, covering over 12 crore families identified through the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011. In rural areas, this includes households marked by deprivation—landless laborers, those in kuccha homes, and marginalized communities like scheduled castes and tribes. The scheme’s cashless, portable model allows beneficiaries to seek treatment at over 27,000 empanelled hospitals nationwide, a critical feature for rural families often far from urban medical hubs.
Recent data paints an encouraging picture. By March 16, 2025, PMJAY had facilitated 9.04 crore hospital admissions since its launch, with 36.86 crore Ayushman cards issued, many to rural households. The National Health Authority (NHA), which oversees PMJAY, reports that rural areas account for a substantial share of this uptake, reflecting the scheme’s focus on equity.
Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, in a parliamentary statement on March 18, 2025, highlighted a standout achievement: over 68 lakh cancer treatments, worth Rs. 13,000 crore, have been provided, with 75.81% occurring in rural areas.
This statistic alone underscores PMJAY’s rural reach, tackling a disease that disproportionately burdens the poor due to late diagnosis and high costs.
Cancer Care Under PMJAY: A Rural Success Story
Cancer treatment under PMJAY is a flagship example of its rural impact. Nadda’s report revealed that of the 68 lakh treatments, 4.5 lakh were targeted therapies—advanced interventions like chemotherapy for breast cancer, lung cancer, and leukemia—valued at Rs. 985 crore. A striking 76.32% of these benefited rural patients. This is no small feat in a country where rural healthcare infrastructure has historically lagged, with fewer oncologists and diagnostic centers per capita compared to urban areas.
A 2023 study in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia found that post-2018, the odds of timely cancer treatment (within 30 days of diagnosis) increased by 36%, largely due to PMJAY’s financial safety net. For rural families, this means less debt and more lives saved.
Take the case of Ram Lal, a farmer from Chhattisgarh. Diagnosed with throat cancer in 2024, he accessed radiotherapy at an empanelled hospital 50 kilometers from his village—fully covered by PMJAY. “Without this, we’d have sold our land,” his wife shared. Such stories are echoing across rural India, from Uttar Pradesh to Odisha.
Rural Penetration: By the Numbers
The Economic Survey 2024-25, released in February 2025, offers deeper insights into PMJAY’s rural footprint. It notes that the scheme has reduced out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) from 62.6% to 39.4% nationwide, with rural areas seeing sharper declines due to higher baseline costs. Rural internet connectivity—up to 398.35 million subscribers by March 2024—has also aided awareness, with beneficiaries using the PMJAY portal (pmjay.gov.in) to check eligibility and locate hospitals.
Hospital admissions tell a broader story. Of the 9.04 crore total admissions by March 2025, rural areas likely account for over 60%, based on historical trends and the scheme’s rural-heavy beneficiary base. The NHA’s dashboard shows 12,509 admissions in the last 24 hours alone (as of March 16), with rural hospitals playing a key role.
Meanwhile, the Jan Aushadhi scheme, which complements PMJAY by providing affordable medicines, has expanded to over 14,000 kendras, boosting rural access to post-hospitalization drugs.
Bridging the Gap: Infrastructure and Support
PMJAY’s rural success owes much to its hospital network. Public hospitals form the backbone, but private facilities in Tier-2 and Tier-3 towns— incentivized by PMJAY’s reimbursement model—are filling gaps. The scheme’s Health Benefit Packages (HBP 2.0) cover 1,929 procedures, from appendectomies to organ transplants, ensuring rural patients aren’t left out of advanced care. Over 10,000 Pradhan Mantri Arogya Mitras (PMAMs)—trained staff at hospitals—assist rural beneficiaries, many of whom lack literacy or confidence to navigate healthcare systems.
The government’s focus on rural development, as outlined in the Union Budget 2025-26, complements PMJAY. With Rs. 1.88 lakh crore allocated to rural schemes, initiatives like the Jal Jeevan Mission (12.2 crore rural tap water connections by January 2025) and Swachh Bharat Mission (maintaining Open Defecation Free status) indirectly bolster health outcomes, amplifying PMJAY’s impact.
Also Read: 10 Government Health Schemes Offering Free Medical Care in India
Challenges in Rural Reach
Despite these gains, PMJAY’s rural functioning isn’t flawless. The SECC 2011 data, now over a decade old, excludes families that have slipped into poverty since. In remote villages, empanelled hospitals can be hours away—travel costs, though not covered, deter usage. A 2024 NITI Aayog report flagged uneven hospital quality, with some rural facilities lacking specialists or equipment. Awareness remains patchy; many eligible rural households haven’t claimed their Ayushman cards, despite the toll-free helpline (14555) and outreach efforts.
Cancer care, while a triumph, highlights another gap: preventive screenings. Rural uptake of diagnostics under PMJAY is low, meaning cases are often caught late. Supply-side issues—delays in hospital reimbursements—also strain private providers, risking dropouts from the network.
Voices from the Ground
Rural beneficiaries offer a mixed but hopeful view. In Rajasthan, Geeta Bai, a widow, used PMJAY for her son’s kidney surgery in 2024. “It saved us,” she says, “but the hospital was two hours away.”
In Tamil Nadu, a village sarpanch praised PMJAY’s cancer coverage but noted, “We need more local clinics—travel eats into our savings.” These voices reflect both gratitude and a call for refinement.
PMJAY in Rural India: The Road Ahead
PMJAY’s rural journey is a tale of progress tempered by persistence. The scheme’s rural cancer treatment figures—68 lakh overall, 75%+ in villages—are a milestone, as are the 9 crore admissions and 36 crore cards. Yet, closing the last-mile gap requires updated eligibility lists, more rural hospitals, and a push for preventive care. The Economic Survey 2024-25 credits PMJAY with advancing Universal Health Coverage, a goal India edges closer to with every rural life touched.
For rural India, PMJAY is more than a scheme—it’s a shield against despair. As it evolves, its promise lies in not just treating illness, but empowering communities to thrive. In the words of Ram Lal, “This card gave me a second chance.” For millions more, it’s a chance still unfolding.
This report is written by our Health Correspondent Ananya Sharma (public health expert). She covers health policy and rural healthcare stories and development for HealthViews Magazine.
