The Delhi government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) scheme in the Capital.
Delhi is the 35th state and Union Territory to join the Centre’s flagship healthcare programme.
The MoU was signed between the Delhi government and the National Health Authority in the presence of Union Health Minister JP Nadda, and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, among others. The distribution of Ayushman Bharat cards will begin from April 10.
Speaking on the occasion, Nadda said that the scheme is built on trust, hence it is termed as an ‘assurance’ scheme, not an insurance scheme.
“Citizens in Delhi will now be able to reap benefits from AB PM-JAY which provides free health cover of Rs. 5 Lakh to each beneficiary family per year. In addition, Delhi government would be giving an additional top-up of 5 lakhs over and above the cover provided by Central Government. Around 6.54 lakh families in Delhi will be benefitted under the scheme,” CM Gupta added.
The Ayushman Bharat scheme, launched on 23rd September 2018, provides free and cashless treatment for 1,961 medical procedures across 27 specialties, covering the cost of medicines, diagnostic services, hospitalisation, ICU care, surgeries, etc.
