West Bengal Joins Ayushman Bharat, Bringing Health Cover to Crores

Speaking at the event, Nadda described the occasion as an important chapter in India's journey towards universal healthcare.

West Bengal has officially joined the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), making it the last State and Union Territory in the country to come under India's flagship health insurance programme. The agreement was signed between the National Health Authority (NHA) and the West Bengal Government, marking a major expansion of healthcare access for millions of families across the state. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed in the presence of Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, Union Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel, senior officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and representatives of the West Bengal Government.

Speaking at the event, Nadda described the occasion as an important chapter in India's journey towards universal healthcare. He noted that Ayushman Bharat, launched in 2018, has grown into the world's largest government-funded health assurance programme, providing financial support to families that often struggle with high medical expenses.

More Than One Crore Families to Benefit Across the State

With the scheme now operational in West Bengal, around 1.43 crore families, covering nearly six crore people, will be eligible for cashless treatment under the programme. This includes 1.24 crore eligible families, senior citizens aged 70 years and above, ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers and helpers.

Beneficiaries will receive health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family every year for secondary and tertiary care treatment. Senior citizens above 70 years will receive additional coverage according to scheme provisions. The portability feature will also allow migrant workers and their families to access treatment at empanelled hospitals anywhere in the country without worrying about location-based restrictions.

According to government data, more than 44 crore Ayushman Cards have already been created nationwide, while over 12 crore hospital admissions have been authorized under the scheme. The programme has supported treatments worth more than ₹1.82 lakh crore, helping reduce the financial burden on vulnerable households.

Healthcare Infrastructure Gets Additional Support

The Union Government stated that it expects to contribute nearly ₹1,000 crore annually towards implementation of the scheme in West Bengal. Officials believe this support will strengthen both public and private healthcare facilities while expanding treatment options for patients.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari welcomed the rollout and said the programme would improve healthcare access for millions of residents. He also highlighted ongoing public health initiatives in the state, including the recently launched HPV vaccination programme for adolescent girls, which has already covered more than 33,000 beneficiaries.

West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal said people in the state will now have access to cashless treatment across more than 36,000 empanelled hospitals under the Ayushman Bharat network. He added that the integration of the scheme with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission will support smoother healthcare delivery through digital health records and connected healthcare services.

The signing of the MoU completes nationwide adoption of AB PM-JAY and brings India one step closer to providing affordable healthcare protection to every eligible citizen.