Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), launched in 2018 to reduce the financial burden of healthcare services on low-income families in India, was finally implemented in the capital city, Delhi. The National Health Authority (NHA) of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of NCT, Delhi, making Delhi the 35th state/UT to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), leaving West Bengal the only state left to implement it. Newly appointed Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that the state government will provide an additional top-up of 5 lakh over and above the 5 lakh cover provided by the central government. “Around 6.54 lakh families in Delhi will now be able to reap benefits from AB PM-JAY, with the card distribution for the scheme to be initiated from 10th April 2025 onwards,” the Delhi CM announced. The MoU was signed in the presence of Health Minister J P Nadda and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, along with other ministers, making Delhi the 35th state to adopt the scheme, leaving West Bengal as the only state which has not implemented the project. Eligibility Criteria for Ayushman Bharat Card The PM-JAY scheme will cover beneficiaries under two categories: urban and rural beneficiaries. In urban localities, about 11 categories of occupational workers will be eligible to avail of the scheme: ragpickers, beggars, domestic workers, street vendors, construction workers, sanitation workers, and security guards, among others. Whereas, in the rural areas, the eligible beneficiaries are required to fulfil one of seven deprivation criteria, which include: households with no adult male member between ages 16 to 59 as well as SC/ST households. They should be living in one room with kucha walls and kucha roof. Families without able-bodied adult members are also eligible. The list automatically includes those who are destitute, living on alms, and households engaged in manual scavenging. What will the PM-JAY scheme cover? Once enrolled, families can receive free and cashless treatment for 1,961 medical procedures spanning 27 specialities, including medications, diagnostic services, hospitalisation, ICU care, and operations, among other charges. The program will also cover three days of pre-hospitalisation and 15 days of post-hospitalisation expenses, such as diagnostic tests and drugs. The capital has 46 private, 34 Delhi government, and 11 central government hospitals. They were appointed by the state health authority to provide medical insurance coverage. How to apply for Ayushman Bharat Card in Delhi 1. Applicants can check their eligibility on the PM-JAY (pmjay.gov.in) website or mobile application. 2. Click on the ABHA registration button. 3. Eligible citizens are required to submit their information and documents (Aadhar, PAN, Voter ID) to verify their identity. 4. Once your application has been reviewed and approved, applicants will receive their Ayushman Card. Offline Application through CSCs: Visit your nearest CSC. The CSC operator will guide you through the application form, verify your documents, and submit the application electronically. *Inputs from PIB (This article has been written by Rhea Kapoor, an intern with indianexpress.com)
