Finally Delhi to implement Ayushman Bharat Yojana, signs pact with Health Ministry

The BJP-led Delhi government on Saturday entered into an agreement with the Union health ministry to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), touted as the world’s largest health coverage scheme. The card distribution for the scheme will be initiated from April 10 onwards.

With the signing of the pact, Delhi has become the 35^th State/UTs to implement the scheme that was stalled by the previous AAP government since it was launched in 2018. Union health minister JP Nadda along with Chief minister Rekha Gupta, Delhi health minister Pankaj Singh and all seven BJP MPs from Delhi were present on the occasion. 

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Nadda said “It is a moment of pride that the world’s largest health coverage scheme which has been in place across 34 states and UTs in the country is finally getting implemented in the national capital as well… this scheme is built on trust, hence it is termed as an ‘assurance’ scheme, not an insurance scheme.”

The health minister said on the basis of economic caste census, 50 crore people were brought under this scheme, making it the first such scheme to do so. He said with the implementation of AB PM-JAY in Delhi, all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their socio-economic status, will be covered under Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana which provides Rs 5 lakh free health cover. “With around 30 lakh people belonging to over 6.5 lakh families and an estimated 6 lakh senior citizens, about 36 lakh people in Delhi will be benefitted by the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme”, he said.

Lauding the scheme, Ms Gupta said, “Citizens in Delhi will now be able to reap benefits from AB PM-JAY which provides free health cover of Rs. 5 Lakh to each beneficiary family per year. In addition, the Delhi government would be giving an additional top-up of 5 lakhs over and above the cover provided by the Central Government. Around 6.54 lakh families in Delhi will be benefited under the scheme.”

She also highlighted that beneficiaries will now gain access to 1,961 health benefit packages from 27 medical specialties, featuring updated procedures and better rates for hospitals. She also informed that card distribution for the scheme will be initiated from April 10onwards.The agreement was signed between Ms L.S Changsan, Addl Secretary, Health ministry and CEO, National Health Authority (NHA), and Dr S.B. Deepak Kumar, Secretary, Health department, Delhi govt.