Delhi has become the 35th State / Union Territory to implement the Central government’s flagship Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).

Union Health Ministry’s PM-JAY implementing agency National Health Authority entered into a MoU with the Government of NCT, Delhi to roll out the programme in the city state today.

 “It is a moment of pride that the world’s largest health coverage scheme which has been in place across 34 states and UTs in the country is finally getting implemented in the national capital as well”, said Union Health Minister JP Nadda.  He stated that this scheme is built on trust, hence it is termed as an ‘assurance’ scheme, not an insurance scheme.

Addressing the MoU signing function, Nadda stated that with the implementation of AB PM-JAY in Delhi, all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their socio-economic status, will be covered under Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana which provides Rs 5 lakh free health cover to all senior citizens of the age 70 years and above irrespective of their socio-economic status. This will provide health cover to all eligible senior citizens where all pre-existing diseases will be covered from day one.  “It is estimated that more than 6 lakh senior citizens in Delhi belonging to 4.5 lakh families will be benefited”, he stated. “With around 30 lakh people belonging to over 6.5 lakh families and an estimated 6 lakh senior citizens, about 36 lakh people in Delhi will be benefitted by the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme”, he added.

Rekha Gupta, Chief Minister of Delhi said the Delhi government would be giving an additional top-up of Rs 5 lakh over and above the Rs 5-lakh cover provided by Central Government. She also highlighted that beneficiaries will now gain access to 1,961 health benefit packages from 27 medical specialties, featuring updated procedures and better rates for hospitals.

The card distribution for the beneficiaries of the scheme will be initiated from April 10 onwards.

PM-JAY scheme provides free health insurance to 50 crore economically weaker sections of the people on the basis of economic caste census and senior citizens above the age of 70 irrespective of their economic status. The government had also brought 36 lakh frontline health workers, including ASHAs and Angadwadi workers under this scheme and the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Bima Yojna to cover both health and life insurance.