West Bengal set to become 36th state/UT to implement Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY
New Delhi, June 7
West Bengal is poised to become the 36th State/Union Territory in the country to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, marking a major milestone in India's journey towards universal health coverage and equitable healthcare access, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Sunday.
The formal induction of the state into the flagship health insurance scheme will take place on Monday through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Health Authority (NHA), under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal.
The MoU signing ceremony will be presided over by Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and attended by senior leaders and officials from both the Centre and the state. Among those expected to be present are West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, Union Ministers of State Pratap Rao Jadhav and Anupriya Patel, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, and West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal.
The inclusion of West Bengal under AB PM-JAY is expected to significantly expand healthcare coverage in the state by providing eligible families with health insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation.
The scheme aims to reduce the financial burden of medical expenses on vulnerable households and improve access to quality healthcare services through a vast network of empanelled public and private hospitals.
Since its launch, Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY has emerged as a key pillar of India's healthcare system, offering financial protection against catastrophic health expenditures and enabling millions of beneficiaries to access treatment without worrying about the cost of care.
With West Bengal joining the programme, eligible residents of the state will also benefit from the portability feature of the scheme, allowing them to avail cashless treatment at empanelled hospitals across the country. Officials believe the move will not only strengthen healthcare delivery in the state but also contribute to the broader goal of ensuring affordable and accessible healthcare for every citizen.
— IANS
Reader Comments
About time! I've seen how Ayushman Bharat helped my relatives in Karnataka—cashless treatment for serious illnesses like cancer. Portability is a gamechanger for migrant workers from Bengal who go to other states for jobs. Gold standard scheme.
Good initiative but the real challenge is awareness and infrastructure. In my village in Bihar, many families still don't know how to use their Ayushman cards, and government hospitals are understaffed. Hope Bengal learns from that and puts strong implementation machinery in place.
Finally, the last major holdout has come on board! 🎉 As someone who worked in public health, I know how AB PM-JAY has reduced out-of-pocket expenses for the poor. 5 lakh per year is huge—can cover major surgeries. Now every Indian citizen has basic health security.
Impressive that India now has 36 states/UTs participating. The concept of a national health insurance portability is something even some developed countries struggle with. Good to see bipartisan cooperation on health—CM Adhikari and Centre working together is a positive sign.
My mother needed bypass surgery last year—we spent almost 4 lakhs. With Ayushman, it would have been free. This will bring so much relief to poor families who otherwise go into debt for medical emergencies. Hope the private hospitals don't create hurdles in empanelment.
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