In a major milestone for India’s healthcare system, West Bengal has become the 36th State/Union Territory to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), completing nationwide adoption of the world’s largest government-funded health assurance programme. The development follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Health Authority (NHA) and the Government of West Bengal.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, and other senior officials from the Centre and the State. With West Bengal joining the scheme, approximately 1.43 crore families, covering nearly 6 crore people, are expected to benefit from cashless and paperless healthcare services under PM-JAY.

Speaking on the occasion, Nadda described the move as a historic step towards achieving Universal Health Coverage in India. He highlighted that since its launch in 2018, PM-JAY has facilitated more than 12 crore treatments worth over ₹1.82 lakh crore, significantly reducing out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure for vulnerable families.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari welcomed the implementation of the scheme, noting that it would strengthen financial protection and improve access to quality healthcare for millions of families across the state. He added that the initiative aligns with the vision of “Swasth Bengal, Swasth Bharat.”

Under PM-JAY, eligible families receive health insurance coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family annually, while senior citizens aged 70 years and above are entitled to additional healthcare benefits as per the scheme’s provisions. Beneficiaries will also gain access to treatment at more than 36,000 empanelled hospitals across the country through the programme’s portability feature.

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The inclusion of West Bengal marks the completion of PM-JAY’s nationwide rollout and is expected to further strengthen healthcare access, affordability, and financial security for millions of Indians.

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