Ayushman Bharat boosts access to advanced spine surgery at PGIMER

A study conducted at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, has demonstrated a marked improvement in access to complex spine surgery following the expanded utilisation of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).

The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Orthopaedics and Trauma (2026), analysed spine surgeries performed at PGIMER from January 2023 to December 2024.

A total of 410 spine surgeries were analysed during the study period. Of these, 67.3 per cent (276 cases) were funded under PM-JAY, while 26.8 per cent (110 cases) were self-financed. The share of PM-JAY-funded surgeries increased from 58.7 per cent in 2023 to 73.5 per cent in 2024, with a steep decline in self-paid procedures from 37.8 per cent to 18.9 per cent. This shift was found to be statistically significant.

Degenerative spinal disorders accounted for the largest proportion of cases (46.1 percent), followed by traumatic spinal injuries (33.4 percent). The surgeries included decompression, stabilisation and complex instrumented fusion procedures, spanning trauma, deformity, tumour, infections and revision spine surgeries.

PGIMER Director Professor Vivek Lal said the findings showed how publicly funded health insurance could expand access to advanced surgical care.

“This study clearly demonstrates how Ayushman Bharat is reshaping access to advanced surgical care by removing financial barriers that once excluded large sections of society,” he said.

The study was conducted by the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, PGIMER. The authors noted that spine surgery is among the most expensive areas of modern healthcare, making it a critical test case for the effectiveness of public health insurance.

Dr Vishal Kumar of the department stated, “PM-JAY has improved access across a broad range of spinal pathologies, while reducing out-of-pocket expenditure. The year-on-year rise in PM-JAY-funded surgeries reflects growing patient awareness and institutional adaptation to the scheme.”

All PM-JAY procedures analysed in the study were performed using implants approved under predefined reimbursement packages, largely comprising domestically manufactured devices. The researchers reported no gross differences in early postoperative outcomes.

The authors conclude that publicly funded insurance under PM-JAY has substantially improved financial access to complex, implant-intensive spine surgery, while underscoring the need for sustained evaluation and policy refinement to maximise long-term impact.