West Bengal rolls out Ayushman Bharat PMJAY schemes for 1.43 cr families

West Bengal Rolls Out Ayushman Bharat PMJAY for 1.43 Crore Families

West Bengal rolls out Ayushman Bharat – On Monday, West Bengal finalized its participation in the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, the central government’s key health insurance initiative. The state government signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Health Authority in New Delhi, marking the completion of the scheme’s nationwide implementation. Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari were present at the event, which signified the state’s alignment with the program.

Under the agreement, approximately 1.43 crore families will receive annual cashless medical coverage of up to ₹5 lakh. This includes 1.24 crore low-income households, 16 lakh senior citizen families aged 70 and above, as well as 3 lakh families of frontline health workers like ASHAs and Anganwadi workers. The central government has allocated nearly ₹1,000 crore annually to support the scheme, with a total of ₹3,505 crore earmarked for the fiscal year 2026-27.

National Reach and Impact

As of now, the Ayushman Bharat PMJAY covers over 62 crore individuals nationwide. Since its launch, beneficiaries have accessed more than 12 crore treatments, amounting to over ₹1.82 trillion in healthcare services. The program’s portability feature, highlighted by Nadda, ensures migrant workers from West Bengal and their families can avail cashless care at any participating facility across the country.

“The portability feature of PM-JAY would be particularly beneficial for migrant workers from West Bengal and their families,” said Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda. “These workers can access cashless treatment at registered facilities nationwide.”

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari emphasized the state’s efforts to strengthen public health infrastructure. He noted that over 80% of public representatives have been trained under the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan. “The implementation of AB PM-JAY represents a significant step toward achieving ‘Swasth Bengal, Swasth Bharat’,” Adhikari added, underscoring the scheme’s role in the state’s health vision.