India’s Health Minister recently announced that the Ayushman Bharat program, the world’s largest health insurance initiative, has provided cancer treatment to 6.8 million individuals, with 75% residing in rural areas. The program has incurred costs of $1.5 billion (13,000 crore rupees) since its launch in 2018. It offers financial support for treating cancers such as breast, oral, cervical, and lung cancers, as well as metastatic melanoma, chronic myeloid leukemia, and Burkitt’s lymphoma.
The scheme includes 200 insurance packages covering 500 cancer treatments, including radiation oncology, chemotherapy, surgical oncology, and palliative care. For those below the poverty line, one-time financial assistance of up to $17,500 (1.5 million rupees) is available for cancer patients. Additionally, the program has reduced the cost of 289 oncology drugs by 50-80% by prioritizing generic over branded medicines.
Ayushman Bharat focuses on the poorest 40% of India’s population and operates on a needs-based model for hospitalization care. Over seven years, it has significantly improved access to timely cancer treatment and reduced financial burdens. A Lancet study highlighted that treatment delays dropped by 90% for beneficiaries under this scheme compared to earlier periods. This achievement underscores the program’s success in addressing healthcare challenges in a vast and diverse country like India.