Why this matters now
The NHP 2017 targets, the Ayushman Bharat pillars and digital health (ABDM) are frequently tested — the architecture of India’s UHC push.
The National Health Policy 2017
The NHP 2017 aims to deliver Universal Health Coverage and raise public health spending to 2.5% of GDP. Targets include increasing life expectancy, cutting infant/maternal/under-5 mortality, and strengthening primary care with a focus on prevention and “health and wellness”.
Ayushman Bharat
Ayushman Bharat has two pillars: Health & Wellness Centres (HWCs) — comprehensive primary care close to communities — and PM-JAY (Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana) — the world’s largest health-insurance scheme, offering ₹5 lakh cover per family per year for secondary/tertiary care to poor and vulnerable families.
Digital health and challenges
The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) builds a digital health ecosystem — health IDs, registries and records. Challenges to UHC: raising public financing, expanding the workforce and infrastructure, quality and fraud control in insurance, and integrating private providers, while keeping the focus on primary and preventive care.
UPSC angle
Know NHP 2017 (UHC, 2.5% GDP target, mortality goals), the two Ayushman Bharat pillars (HWCs + PM-JAY ₹5 lakh cover), and ABDM digital health, plus the financing challenge.
Frequently asked questions
What is the goal of the National Health Policy 2017?
To achieve Universal Health Coverage (“Health for All”) and raise public health spending to 2.5% of GDP.
What are the two pillars of Ayushman Bharat?
Health & Wellness Centres (primary care) and PM-JAY (a health-insurance scheme for secondary and tertiary care).
What does PM-JAY provide?
Health insurance cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year for poor and vulnerable families.
What is the ABDM?
The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, which builds a digital health ecosystem of health IDs, registries and records.