Launched in 2018, India’s state program “Ayushman Bharat” has helped 6.8 million cancer patients. The core goal is to ensure access to medical care for the poorest segments of the population, especially in rural areas. More than 75% of patients received treatment thanks to lower prices for medicines—by 50–80%—due to generics, i.e., drug equivalents produced by other companies after the original medicine’s patent expires.
About $1.5 billion was allocated for implementation. In addition to treatment, patients can receive financial support of up to $17,500. The program covers various types of cancer, including breast and lung cancer.
By scale, “Ayushman Bharat” has already surpassed similar initiatives in other countries, such as Medicare in the United States or the NHS in the United Kingdom, and is being considered an example of how serious-disease treatment can be made accessible to millions.
