Kolkata: West Bengal is poised to become the 36th state in India to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), a significant milestone in the nation's quest for universal health coverage. According to an official press release, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the scheme's rollout in the state will be signed on June 8 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. The agreement will be formalized between the National Health Authority (NHA), operating under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the Department of Health and Family Welfare of the West Bengal government.
Key Details of the MoU Signing Ceremony
The signing ceremony will be presided over by Union Health Minister JP Nadda. It will be attended by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Ayush Pratap Rao Jadhav, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilizers Anupriya Patel, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal, and other senior officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the National Health Authority, and the West Bengal government.
Benefits of AB PM-JAY
Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY offers health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to eligible beneficiaries. Since its launch, the scheme has become a cornerstone of India's healthcare transformation by reducing out-of-pocket expenses and improving access to quality treatment through a network of empaneled public and private hospitals.
Impact on West Bengal
The implementation of AB PM-JAY in West Bengal is expected to provide financial protection against catastrophic health expenditure to millions of eligible beneficiaries. It will also ensure portability of healthcare benefits across the country, allowing beneficiaries to access treatment in any empaneled hospital nationwide. Furthermore, the scheme is anticipated to strengthen the state's healthcare ecosystem by enhancing access to quality and affordable healthcare services.
With the signing of the MoU, West Bengal will join 35 other states and union territories in implementing the scheme, marking a major step towards equitable and accessible healthcare for all citizens across the nation.
