Lucknow, Sept. 24 -- Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the national leader in health coverage with over 5.38 crore Ayushman Cards issued - more than any other state in India - even as the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) marks its seventh anniversary. Under the directive of chief minister Yogi Adityanath, the state observed Ayushman Bharat Diwas with widespread outreach programmes and card distribution camps. Thanks to this sustained push, 87% of eligible families in UP now have at least one Ayushman cardholder, signalling a major leap towards universal health coverage. According to Sanchi CEO Archana Verma, UP has so far facilitated 74.4 lakh free treatments worth over Rs.12,283 crore, with tertiary care services alone accounting for Rs.4,200 crore-covering cancer, heart disease, organ transplants, and other critical illnesses. With 6,099 hospitals empanelled-the highest in India-the state continues to strengthen last-mile access to healthcare....