India’s ambition to become a $5 trillion economy by 2025 relies heavily on the active participation of women, both in the workforce and across various sectors of society. The G20 Presidency in 2023 placed a strong emphasis on “women-led development,” underscoring the importance of ensuring women’s access to healthcare and their economic empowerment. Access to affordable and high-quality healthcare is essential for achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) related to maternal and child health, education, and economic stability. Reproductive health, particularly family planning, plays a significant role in advancing these goals by allowing women to plan their families, remain in the workforce, and continue their education, which ultimately drives economic growth.

However, despite the progress made by the Indian government through various public health programs, many women continue to face challenges in accessing family planning services due to factors such as cost, availability, and societal stigma. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), approximately 70 million women in India have an unmet need for family planning but cannot access the necessary services. In response to these barriers, including family planning services in both public and private insurance coverage could be a solution to increase accessibility and address this gap.

India’s flagship health insurance scheme, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), covers a broad range of obstetric and gynecological inpatient procedures but does not include contraceptives for family planning purposes. Expanding insurance coverage to include contraceptive services, particularly post-childbirth or after a medical termination of pregnancy (MTP), could significantly improve access for women. Research has also shown that oral contraceptives can lower the risk of endometrial cancer by up to 50%, with the protective effects lasting for years after discontinuation.