PM-JAY scheme rollout begins in Delhi with 30 beneficiaries getting their Ayushman cards

Delhi government implements Ayushman Bharat scheme, providing health coverage to families and improving healthcare infrastructure.

Five days after the Delhi government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Centre, the first batch of 30 Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) beneficiaries on Thursday received their Ayushman cards at an event in Vigyan Bhawan. Registration for the scheme is now open to the public.

The Delhi government also signed an MoU with the Centre during the same event on another component of the scheme, Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), which focuses on developing capacities of health systems and institutions across primary, secondary and tertiary levels and preparing health systems in responding effectively to the current and future pandemics/disasters.

Under PM-JAY, 6.5 lakh families will receive ₹5 lakh health cover per family for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation, with the Delhi government announcing that it would add an additional ₹5 lakh cover from its own funds.

Chandni Chowk resident Nanno Begum, 69, who was among the 30 beneficiaries, said so far, she and her family of eight would visit local clinics in case of any illnesses. “We wouldn’t go to hospitals because we do not have the means,” she said.

ASHA, anganwadi workers, and anganwadi helpers have also been included in the scheme in Delhi. “We have always been at the forefront, helping other people battle illnesses. I’m glad that we, too, can now benefit from the scheme,” said Anusaya, 55, an ASHA worker who received her Ayushman card at the event.

Delhi Health Department officials said that as of now, 46 private hospitals are being empanelled in Delhi. Training programmes have been taking place to train healthcare workers to identify beneficiaries and assist them with the online registration process.

In addition to distributing cards, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said under PM-ABHIM, 1,139 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAM), 11 integrated public health laboratories and nine critical care blocks will be set up, for which ₹1,749 crore was allocated in the budget. Existing Mohalla Clinics will be converted into AAMs and the rest set up from scratch.