West Bengal has become the 36th State/Union Territory to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), completing the nationwide rollout of the world’s largest government-funded health assurance programme.

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, to facilitate the implementation of the scheme in the State.

Addressing the gathering, Jagat Prakash Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers said, “Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY was launched in September 2018 and has since emerged as the world's largest government-funded health assurance programme.”

Highlighting the scheme’s achievements, Nadda noted that beneficiaries have availed more than 12 crore treatments worth over Rs. 1.82 lakh crore, providing substantial financial protection to poor and vulnerable families. He further stated that out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure has declined significantly from 64.6% before 2018 to 43.4% today.

Referring to findings published in the medical journal The Lancet, Nadda said nearly 90% of eligible cancer patients under the scheme were able to access treatment within 30 days, demonstrating improved access to timely healthcare.

Speaking on the occasion, Suvendu Adhikari, Chief Minister of West Bengal expressed gratitude to the Government of India for supporting healthcare delivery in West Bengal and highlighted the recent release of Rs. 527 crore under the National Health Mission.

Welcoming the implementation of AB PM-JAY, Adhikari stated: “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 ASHAs, Anganwadi Workers and senior citizens, the total number of beneficiary families will go up to 1.43 crore.”

Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava described the agreement as a historic milestone in India’s healthcare journey and noted that nearly 1.43 crore families—including 1.24 crore eligible families, approximately 3.06 lakh ASHA and Anganwadi worker families, and around 15.95 lakh senior citizen families—would now be covered.

National Health Authority CEO Sunil Kumar Barnwal highlighted the substantial financial support that the Centre will provide for the implementation of the scheme. “Based on the approved beneficiary base, the Central Government's contribution is expected to be nearly Rs. 1,000 crore annually.”