West Bengal Rejoins Ayushman Bharat Scheme: Implications for Healthcare Access
West Bengal rejoins the central health insurance scheme after a five-year gap.
Source: GNews Welfare PolicyWest Bengal has decided to rejoin the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) after withdrawing from it in 2019. This move was announced by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The scheme aims to provide health insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. The state's re-entry is expected to benefit a large number of eligible families who were previously covered only by the state's own Swasthya Sathi scheme. The decision marks a significant development in centre-state cooperation on healthcare policy.
- West Bengal rejoined the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) in 2024.
- The state had previously withdrawn from the scheme in 2019.
- AB-PMJAY provides health insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year.
- The scheme covers secondary and tertiary care hospitalization for eligible beneficiaries.
- West Bengal's own health scheme, Swasthya Sathi, offers similar benefits but is state-funded.
Launched in 2018, it is the world's largest government-funded health assurance scheme. It provides a health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to over 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families. It aims to reduce catastrophic health expenditure for beneficiaries.
The NHA is an attached office of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It is responsible for implementing Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY. It sets the standards, protocols, and procedures for the scheme and manages its IT platform.
A universal health insurance scheme launched by the Government of West Bengal in 2016. It provides health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care. It is entirely state-funded and covers all residents of West Bengal.
Exams often test the features of major government schemes like Ayushman Bharat, including their objectives, benefits, and funding patterns. Also, be aware of centre-state relations regarding scheme implementation.
Think 'AYUSH' (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy) for health, and 'BHARAT' for India-wide coverage. PMJAY = Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, Jan (people) Arogya (health).