DOUBLING INSURANCE cover under Ayushman Bharat to Rs 10 lakh (and up to Rs 15 lakh for women), adding another 4 lakh private hospital beds under the scheme and increasing the number of beneficiaries from 55 crore to 100 crore — these have been pitched as the Union Health Ministry’s key priorities for the NDA’s third term, The Indian Express has learned.

The key action points have been listed out in the report of the Group of Secretaries (GoS) on social sector that has been tasked to articulate goals for the next five years and timelines for their achievement. The GoS on social sector, which covers nine ministries, including Health, Ayush, Sports, Culture and Education, is expected to make a presentation to the Cabinet Secretary soon.

The Ayushman Bharat Yojana, also known as Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, is the incumbent government’s flagship health assurance scheme, often touted as the world’s largest. It provides an annual coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to approximately 55 crore beneficiaries from 12.34 crore families, who are among the bottom 40% of the country’s population.