West Bengal joins Ayushman Bharat scheme

 West Bengal, on Monday (June 8, 2026), became the 36th State/Union Territory to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). 

The National Health Authority (NHA), under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal, for the implementation of AB PM-JAY in the State. The ceremony was presided over by Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and Chief Minister of West Bengal Suvendu Adhikari among others.

Congratulating the Government of West Bengal on joining AB PM-JAY, the Union Health Minister stated that following the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY launch in September 2018 it has now emerged as the world’s largest government-funded health assurance programme.

The Union Health Minister highlighted that beneficiaries under the scheme have availed over 12 crore treatments worth more than ₹1.82 lakh crore, providing substantial financial protection to poor and vulnerable families. He noted that one of the most significant outcomes of the Government’s efforts has been the reduction in out-of-pocket expenditure on healthcare, which has declined from 64.6% before 2018 to 43.4% today.

Emphasising the impact of the scheme, he said that AB PM-JAY has enabled timely access to quality healthcare through a cashless, paperless and fully digital platform. 

“The portability feature of PM-JAY would be particularly beneficial for migrant workers from West Bengal and their families. Beneficiaries working or residing in other States would be able to access cashless treatment at nearby empanelled hospitals across the country, ensuring continuity of healthcare wherever they may be,’’ said the Minister.

The Union Health Minister also appreciated the Government of West Bengal for launching the HPV Vaccination Programme on 30th May 2026 for adolescent girls aged 14 years. He noted that the initiative would play an important role in preventing cervical cancer and informed that over 33,000 girls have already been vaccinated under the programme out of the targeted 7.65 lakh beneficiaries.

Speaking at the occasion, Suvendu Adhikari, Chief Minister, West Bengal, noted that under the National Health Mission, the Government of India has recently released ₹527 crore to West Bengal, which will further support healthcare infrastructure and service delivery across the State.

The Chief Minister welcomed the implementation of AB PM-JAY in West Bengal and stated that approximately 1.24 crore eligible families in the State will now be able to avail health coverage under the scheme, ensuring greater financial protection and access to quality healthcare services, including the ASHAs, Aanganwadi Workers and senior citizens the total number of beneficiary families will go up to 1.43 crore, he further added.