For the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the progress and welfare of its citizens, particularly those from economically weak and middle-income sections of society, has always been a top priority.

Accessible and affordable quality healthcare has become a reality for citizens. Earlier, medical expenditure used to be a severe economic burden for low-income households and often led them into debt traps. In 2018, the Modi government gave a permanent relief from this burden to nearly 18 crore households by launching the Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, the world's largest health insurance programme.
However, PM Modi is not the one to rest and hence has brought in two more important programmes that will build the future of healthcare in India.

PM - Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission

Given the push to make healthcare affordable, the Modi government has simultaneously begun expanding the nation’s existing healthcare infrastructure with new hospitals, labs, medical colleges, etc.

The PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission was launched in October 2021 with aim of increasing health coverage for citizens by building new public health infrastructure like facilities for primary and critical care in urban and rural areas.

The scheme's launch has paved the way for the construction of more modern hospitals and healthcare facilities, which are likely to attract additional foreign investment as well as develop indigenous capabilities. Through the same mission lakhs of jobs for youth also stand to be generated.

Under the PM–Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission an investment of Rs. 64,180 crore has been envisioned to establish thousands of HWCs, integrated labs and public health units across high-focus areas in India.

Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission

Since taking office in 2014, Prime Minister Modi has pursued a multi-pronged strategy involving technology to solve health-related concerns. The most recent example has been the development of the Aarogya Setu app which has aided in the monitoring as well as managing of COVID-19 tracing while ensuring steps may be taken to prevent its spread. Similarly, CoWIN platform has simplified the process of providing vaccination doses. This has helped manage vaccination in an orderly fashion in a country of the scale of India. Over the years, the scope of telemedicine has broadened, particularly during the pandemic, when the e-Sanjeevani app was used by crores of people.

When it comes to technology-aided advancement the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission is the latest addition to this technology-led delivery of healthcare services. This new effort intends to connect thousands of citizens living in remote areas of the country with doctors from major metropolitan hospitals by digitizing health records and information regarding previous and/or ongoing treatments.

On the 15th of August 2020, the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission-ABDM) was launched as a pilot in six Union Territories: Andaman and Nicobar, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli-Daman & Diu, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry. The national launch of the ABDM was subsequently announced just a year later on September 27, 2021.

The Mission will not only make hospital processes easier, but it will also increase ease of living. Every citizen will now receive a digital health ID, and their health records will be digitally protected. The ABDM is working to promote transparent, interoperable standards in the digital health environment. To provide a smooth digital healthcare experience for all stakeholders–health facilities, patients, and healthcare professionals–ABDM has created building blocks and interoperable APIs.

A total of 21.9 crore Health IDs (ABHA IDs) have been created in the country as of March 28, 2022. As the implementing agency, the National Health Authority (NHA) has undertaken awareness campaigns in healthcare facilities and, as part of outreach operations, has launched various campaigns and hosted webinars with doctors to improve awareness and further boost participation in ABDM.

The government is providing affordable and accessible all-around medical treatment to the most vulnerable residents by developing health infrastructure and leveraging technology in multiple forms to reach citizens irrespective of their geographical location or economic condition.
The Modi government’s multi-dimensional outlook covering preventive and curative healthcare, and connecting them with technology, is leading to an improvement in individual wellness as well as significantly improving health outcomes.