National health insurance scheme completes eight years with six hundred million beneficiaries

India's major public health insurance program has reached eight years of operation after starting in September 2018 in Ranchi, Jharkhand. The initiative provides eligible families with free treatment up to five lakh rupees every year for hospital stays. Government data shows that six hundred million people now have access to this coverage, while about four hundred eighty-five million individuals have received identification cards. Around one hundred thirty million patients have used the service for free medical care totalling two lakh crore rupees. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union health minister JP Nadda both shared messages online to mark the anniversary. The National Health Authority is currently preparing a second phase of the program with a focus on digital tools and wider reach. Nearly thirty-eight thousand hospitals across the country are currently linked to the network. At the same time, some private medical providers report that getting payments cleared can take up to four months instead of the mandated time frame, pointing to challenges that need discussion.