In a historic development for India’s public health sector, West Bengal has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). With this signing, West Bengal becomes the 36th and final State/Union Territory to adopt the central health insurance scheme, effectively completing the pan-India coverage network.
The landmark agreement was finalized at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. The ceremony was presided over by Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and attended by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, alongside senior officials from the National Health Authority (NHA) and the state’s health department.
Massive Reach and Financial Protection
The rollout is poised to dramatically alter the healthcare landscape for millions of families in West Bengal. Under the scheme, eligible households will receive an annual cashless health cover of up to ₹5 lakh for secondary and tertiary care hospitalizations. According to official estimates, the implementation will expand the state’s approved beneficiary base to approximately 1.43 crore families (nearly 6 crore individuals). This vast pool includes:
1.24 crore vulnerable and low-income households.
15.95 lakh senior citizens aged 70 years and above, who receive coverage regardless of their socio-economic status.
3.06 lakh frontline health workers, including ASHAs, Anganwadi Workers, and Helpers.
Empowering the Migrant Workforce
One of the most critical aspects of this transition is nationwide portability. Previously, residents relying on the state’s independent healthcare setup faced limitations when traveling. Chief Minister Adhikari highlighted that West Bengal has nearly one crore migrant workers who frequently travel to other states for employment.
“Now, these workers can use their Ayushman cards to access cashless, quality treatment at any empanelled public or private hospital across the entire country,” noted West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal, emphasizing that previous state-specific cards offered no utility outside state borders.
The Central Government has already fast-tracked the transition by releasing an initial funding tranche of ₹976 crore to seamlessly integrate West Bengal’s existing medical infrastructure into the national network, ensuring immediate relief against catastrophic health expenses.
