Minister of State for Health, Prataprao Jadhav, informed the Rajya Sabha on 25th of March that as of March 21, a total of 77,634 hospital admissions amounting to ₹87 crore had been sanctioned for mental health-related treatments under the Ayushman Bharat health insurance initiative.
Under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), the latest National Health Benefit Package (HBP) ensures cashless treatment for 1,961 medical procedures across 27 specialties, including 22 procedures specific to mental health conditions. Jadhav, in a written response, stated that the scheme covers treatments for conditions such as intellectual disability, schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders, as well as autism spectrum disorder, among others.
Additionally, state governments have been given the flexibility to modify the Health Benefit Packages as per their regional healthcare needs.
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) issued a master circular on May 29, 2024, requiring insurers to expand their offerings to cover all types of pre-existing and chronic medical conditions, including mental health disorders. Insurance providers are also mandated to ensure their products comply with the Mental Health Care Act, 2017. In accordance with these guidelines, insurers have made available policies that include mental health coverage based on their specific product designs.
“As per data from the National Health Authority (NHA), 77,634 hospital admissions, amounting to ₹87 crore, have been approved under this scheme as of March 21,” Jadhav confirmed.
Government Initiatives for Mental Healthcare
To enhance mental healthcare accessibility and affordability, the government is actively implementing the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP). The District Mental Health Programme (DMHP), a crucial component of NMHP, has been sanctioned for 767 districts, with financial and logistical support provided to states and Union Territories through the National Health Mission (NHM).
Mental health services at the Community Health Centre (CHC) and Primary Health Centre (PHC) levels under DMHP include outpatient consultations, psychological assessments, counseling, psycho-social support, long-term care for severe mental disorders, and access to necessary medications. Furthermore, there is a provision for 10-bed inpatient facilities at the district level.
The government is also focusing on strengthening mental healthcare at the primary level by upgrading over 1.75 lakh Sub Health Centres (SHCs) and PHCs into Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. These upgraded centers now include Mental, Neurological, and Substance Use Disorders (MNS) as part of their Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) services.
At the tertiary care level, the government has sanctioned 25 Centres of Excellence to boost postgraduate student intake in mental health disciplines and enhance advanced treatment facilities. Additionally, 47 postgraduate departments in mental health specialties across 19 government medical colleges have received support for expansion.
Currently, India has 47 government-run mental hospitals, including three premier institutions:
- National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru
- Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur, Assam
- Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi
Mental health services are also available at all AIIMS hospitals across the country.
Strengthening Mental Health Workforce and Digital Services
To address the shortage of mental healthcare professionals in underserved areas, the government has been providing online training programs since 2018 through Digital Academies established at the three Central Mental Health Institutes. So far, 42,488 professionals have been trained through these platforms.
Additionally, on October 10, 2022, the government launched the National Tele Mental Health Programme (Tele-MANAS) to expand access to quality mental health counseling services. As of March 19, 2025, 53 Tele-MANAS Cells have been set up across 36 states and Union Territories, handling over 19.67 lakh calls from individuals seeking mental health support.
On World Mental Health Day (October 10, 2024), the government introduced the Tele-MANAS Mobile Application, designed to offer a broad range of mental health support services, from general well-being guidance to assistance for severe mental disorders.
