On 9 June 2026 the National Health Authority and the Government of West Bengal signed an MoU to implement Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), making West Bengal the 36th State/UT and integrating Swasthya Sathi beneficiaries into the national scheme.
Scheme Features & Eligibility
- Cover: Up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation; cashless and paperless at point of service.
- Entitlement: Determined using SECC database and designated state beneficiary registers under defined deprivation and occupational criteria.
West Bengal Rollout Metrics
- Beneficiary Base: Approximately 1.43 crore families (~6 crore individuals).
- Transition Details: ~1.24 crore households integrated from state pool; ~3.03 lakh families of ASHAs/Anganwadi staff; ~15.95 lakh families with members aged ≥70 years.
Financing & Infrastructure
- Funding Pattern: Centrally Sponsored Scheme; general states follow 60:40 Centre:State sharing; Centre committed ~₹1,000 crore per annum with an initial release of ₹527 crore.
- National Network: >44 crore Ayushman cards issued; >36,000 empanelled public and private hospitals.
- Utilisation: >12 crore admissions amounting to ~₹1.82 lakh crore cumulatively.
- OOPE Trend: Out-of-pocket expenditure share fell from 64.6% (pre-2018) to 43.4% nationally.
Portability & Public Health Linkages
- Portability: Cashless treatment available across all empanelled hospitals nationwide for migrant and resident beneficiaries.
- Integration: Links curative assurance with HPV vaccination and TB elimination programmes to cover specialised care and complications.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- National Health Authority: Attached office of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; implements AB PM-JAY nationally while State Health Agencies execute state operations.
- Ayushman Bharat Pillars: Primary care via Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and secondary/tertiary care via AB PM-JAY.
- SDG Alignment: Contributes to SDG Target 3.8 on universal health coverage and financial risk protection.