New Delhi: The Delhi government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the central government on Saturday to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) in the capital. This initiative, which was a commitment in the BJP’s manifesto prior to the Delhi assembly elections, aims to enhance healthcare accessibility for residents of the national capital.
The MoU signing ceremony took place in New Delhi and was attended by Union Health Minister JP Nadda, Union Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel, and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, among others.
With this agreement, Delhi becomes the 35th state or Union Territory to adopt the health insurance scheme, leaving West Bengal as the only state yet to implement it.
The MoU was formalized between the Delhi government and the National Health Authority, which oversees the execution of the Ayushman Bharat health insurance initiative.
The BJP regained power in Delhi in February after a hiatus of over 26 years and approved the scheme’s implementation during its inaugural cabinet meeting, immediately following the swearing-in of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and her six ministers on February 20.
What is the Ayushman Bharat scheme?
The Ayushman Bharat scheme offers free and cashless medical treatment for 1,961 procedures across 27 specialties, covering expenses related to medications, diagnostic services, hospitalization, ICU care, surgeries, and more. Eligible families in Delhi will benefit from an annual health coverage of up to ₹10 lakh, with ₹5 lakh funded by the Centre and an additional ₹5 lakh provided by the Delhi government.
What are the next steps?
In the wake of the MoU signing, a dedicated campaign will be initiated to enroll beneficiaries in the scheme.
