West Bengal to Join Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, Expanding Healthcare Coverage to Millions
By Suman Munshi | IBG NEWS
New Delhi, June 7: West Bengal is set to become the 36th State/Union Territory in India to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), marking a significant development in the country’s efforts to achieve universal health coverage.
According to an official announcement from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the implementation of the flagship health insurance scheme will be signed on June 8 between the National Health Authority (NHA) and the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
The agreement will formally bring West Bengal under the ambit of AB PM-JAY, widely regarded as the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance programme. The move is expected to extend health coverage benefits to millions of eligible residents across the State.
The MoU signing ceremony will be presided over by Union Health and Family Welfare Minister J.P. Nadda and attended by senior officials from the Central Government, National Health Authority and the Government of West Bengal.
Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY provides eligible beneficiary families with health insurance coverage of up to ₹5 lakh annually for secondary and tertiary hospitalization. Since its launch, the scheme has played a crucial role in reducing out-of-pocket medical expenses and improving access to quality healthcare services through a nationwide network of empanelled public and private hospitals.
Health experts believe the inclusion of West Bengal will significantly enhance financial protection for vulnerable households while ensuring portability of healthcare benefits across India. Beneficiaries will be able to access treatment in empanelled hospitals both within and outside the State under the scheme’s cashless treatment framework.
The implementation is also expected to strengthen West Bengal’s healthcare ecosystem by improving access to affordable medical services, expanding healthcare choices for patients, and supporting better health outcomes across urban and rural areas.
With West Bengal joining the programme, Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY moves closer to achieving nationwide coverage, reinforcing the government’s vision of equitable and accessible healthcare for all citizens.
