Kolkata: West Bengal is set to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), marking a major addition to the state’s healthcare system after the newly formed BJP-led government approved the rollout of the Centre’s flagship health insurance programme.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the decision and stated that the scheme would help ensure affordable and quality healthcare access for people across West Bengal.

The move ends years of political disagreement over the implementation of Ayushman Bharat in the state, as the previous government had opted to continue its own healthcare scheme instead of joining the Centre-sponsored programme.

PM Modi welcomes decision

In a post on social media platform X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed happiness over the inclusion of West Bengal under the Ayushman Bharat programme.

He stated that the welfare of the people of West Bengal remained a priority and said the healthcare scheme would provide access to affordable and high-quality treatment for lakhs of families in the state.

The Prime Minister also said the “double-engine government” would ensure smooth implementation of central welfare schemes in West Bengal.

The decision is being viewed as a significant healthcare policy shift in the state, particularly because Ayushman Bharat had remained a politically sensitive issue for several years.

What is Ayushman Bharat?

Ayushman Bharat, officially known as Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), was launched by the Central government in 2018 to reduce the financial burden of medical treatment on economically weaker families.

The scheme provides annual cashless health insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation.

It is regarded as one of the world’s largest government-funded healthcare programmes and consists of two major components — Health and Wellness Centres for primary healthcare and PM-JAY for hospitalisation coverage.

Under the scheme, eligible beneficiaries can receive treatment at empanelled government and private hospitals without making direct payments, as treatment expenses are borne by the government.

The programme covers a wide range of treatments, including surgeries, cancer treatment, cardiac care, diagnostics, ICU charges and post-hospitalisation expenses.

Lakhs of families expected to benefit

Officials said the implementation of Ayushman Bharat in West Bengal is expected to benefit lakhs of families, particularly those struggling with rising medical costs.

The state government has reportedly directed officials to complete agreements and administrative formalities with the Union Health Ministry to facilitate smooth implementation of the scheme.

Reports indicate that the rollout could begin from June 1 if the remaining procedural work is completed on time.

Patients in the state are expected to gain access to a larger network of empanelled hospitals, including both government-run and private healthcare institutions.

Healthcare experts believe the scheme could significantly reduce out-of-pocket medical expenditure for low-income and middle-class families facing expensive treatments.

Cashless treatment major advantage

One of the biggest advantages of the scheme is cashless treatment during medical emergencies.

Beneficiaries will only require their Ayushman card to avail treatment at empanelled hospitals, eliminating the need for immediate payments during hospital admissions.

Officials said the feature is especially important for economically weaker families who often face financial distress during emergencies and are forced to borrow money for treatment.

Senior citizens above the age of 70 are also expected to receive major benefits under the programme. Recent reports suggest that citizens in this category may become eligible for coverage irrespective of their income level.

Healthcare professionals believe the scheme could improve healthcare accessibility in rural and semi-urban regions where advanced treatment often remains financially out of reach.

Centre increases funding for scheme

Under PM-JAY, each eligible family receives insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh annually.

The implementation cost is shared between the Central and state governments, while additional coverage in some states is funded using state resources.

The Union government has steadily increased budgetary allocation for the programme over the years. In the Union Budget for FY27, the allocation for Ayushman Bharat was increased to Rs 9,500 crore.

At present, nearly 12 crore families across India are covered under the scheme.

Officials said hospitals in West Bengal have already begun registration and documentation procedures in preparation for implementation.

Healthcare access expected to improve

The rollout of Ayushman Bharat in West Bengal is expected to improve healthcare access for thousands of patients requiring expensive medical treatment.

Experts said effective implementation would be crucial to ensure timely treatment, smooth hospital empanelment and proper beneficiary awareness across urban and rural areas.

With administrative preparations currently underway, residents and healthcare providers are now awaiting the formal launch of the scheme in the state.