New Delhi

On Friday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking the inclusion of Ayurveda, Yoga, and Naturopathy in the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY). The bench, led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, issued a notice and directed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to assist in the case. The matter is scheduled for further hearing in three weeks.

The PIL argues that India’s traditional healthcare systems, including Ayurveda, Yoga, and Naturopathy, should be incorporated into the PM-JAY, which was designed to provide health coverage to economically disadvantaged and vulnerable families. The scheme, launched by the government to promote Universal Health Coverage (UHC), covers over 12 crore families and offers a health coverage of Rs 5 lakh.

The plea highlighted that the current scheme, which primarily covers allopathic treatments, excludes traditional practices like Ayurveda and Yoga, despite their cultural significance and potential benefits for modern healthcare. Previously, the Delhi High Court had heard a similar petition and urged the government to consider integrating these systems, prompting the Union government to file an affidavit promising action. The PIL emphasizes the need to respect citizens’ right to choose their treatment methods while improving healthcare access and quality.