11, October 2026
Government Health Security Schemes in Gujarat: A Critical Evaluation of PMJAY–MA on Healthcare Access, Financial Protection and Policy Outcomes
Author(s): 1 Dipti N Manvar, 2 Dr. Maria Janet
Authors Affiliations:
1Research Scholar/Department of Commerce & Management/ Sabarmati University, Ahmedabad, India
2Assistnat Professor, Department of Commerce & Management/ Sabarmati University, Ahmedabad, India
DOIs:10.2017/IJRCS/202610001 | Paper ID: IJRCS202610001Abstract
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Healthcare financing remains one of the most significant public policy challenges in developing countries, particularly in ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare services while protecting vulnerable populations from catastrophic health expenditure. In India, government-sponsored health insurance schemes have emerged as essential instruments for advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Gujarat has been a pioneer in this domain through the implementation of the Mukhyamantri Amrutam (MA) Scheme in 2012, its subsequent expansion into Mukhyamantri Amrutam Vatsalya (MAV), and its integration with the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) under the PMJAY–MA framework. The enhancement of annual health insurance coverage from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh per eligible family in 2023 further strengthened Gujarat's commitment to healthcare accessibility and financial protection.
This study critically evaluates the design, implementation, coverage, and policy outcomes of the PMJAY–MA scheme in Gujarat using secondary data collected from government reports, National Health Authority publications, peer-reviewed journal articles, policy documents, and published research. The study adopts a descriptive and analytical research design supported by comparative policy analysis.
The findings indicate that the PMJAY–MA scheme has significantly improved access to tertiary healthcare services, expanded financial risk protection, and strengthened institutional healthcare delivery through an extensive network of empanelled hospitals. Nevertheless, challenges persist in terms of beneficiary awareness, geographical disparities in service utilization, healthcare quality monitoring, fraud prevention, and long-term fiscal sustainability. The paper concludes that while Gujarat has developed one of India's most comprehensive state-supported health security systems, sustained policy reforms focusing on awareness generation, digital governance, primary healthcare strengthening, and continuous monitoring are essential for achieving equitable and sustainable universal health coverage.
Government Health Security, PMJAY–MA, Mukhyamantri Amrutam, Universal Health Coverage, Public Health Insurance, Healthcare Financing, Gujarat, Policy Evaluation.
Dipti N Manvar, Dr. Maria Janet (2026); Government Health Security Schemes in Gujarat: A Critical Evaluation of PMJAY–MA on Healthcare Access, Financial Protection and Policy Outcomes, International Journal of Research Culture Society, ISSN(O): 2456-6683, Volume – 10, Issue – 10, Available on – https://ijrcs.org/