Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh on Wednesday announced the launch of registration for the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) in the national capital. The registration process begins Thursday, marking Delhi’s formal inclusion in the nationwide health insurance scheme.
AB-PMJAY is a government-backed health insurance scheme that provides financial coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family annually for hospitalization expenses, aiming to benefit economically weaker sections of society.
Speaking to reporters, Health Minister Singh said:
“This MoU will strengthen the facilities and infrastructure for the people of Delhi. We will be able to fulfil the promises made to Delhi… Registration is starting Thursday, and the people of Delhi will now be able to avail the benefits which they were not getting for 11 years due to non-implementation by the previous government…”
This rollout marks the first phase of the registration drive for the Ayushman Bharat Scheme in Delhi.
Referring to the broader healthcare reforms, Singh added:
“An MoU for PM ABHIM will happen soon… The infrastructure that was ruined in the last 10 years needs to be corrected, and that’s what we are doing… Maholla Clinics are in shambles. We are enquiring about all of them.”
Delhi became the 35th State and Union Territory to implement AB PM-JAY after the National Health Authority (NHA) of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Delhi government on April 5.
The MoU was signed between LS Changsan, Additional Secretary of MoHFW and CEO of NHA, and Dr SB Deepak Kumar, Secretary (Health and Family Welfare), Government of NCT Delhi.
During the signing ceremony, Union Minister JP Nadda remarked:
“It is a moment of pride that the world’s largest health coverage scheme, which has been in place across 34 states and UTs in the country, is finally getting implemented in the national capital as well.”
With this move, lakhs of Delhi residents will now gain access to cashless, quality medical care in empanelled public and private hospitals under AB-PMJAY.