Today marks 6 years of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri-Jan Arogya Yojana (Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY) launched by the central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to the National Health Authority, 35 crore Ayushman cards have been made in the country so far. Under the Ayushman Bharat PM Jan Arogya Yojana, crores of people are provided health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family every year on hospitalization for treatment. In the most populous state of Uttar Pradesh alone, more than 5 crore 11 lakh people have been issued golden cards under Ayushman Bharat-PM Jan Arogya Yojana and Chief Minister Jan Arogya Yojana. With this scheme, the poor are getting better treatment today and their health is also safe. However, there are some areas in the country where even today Ayushman Bharat PM Jan Arogya Yojana is not implemented. In early August 2024, the Ministry of Health had informed that Ayushman Bharat PM is applicable in 33 states and union territories except Delhi, West Bengal and Odisha. Let us know which scheme is run parallel to Ayushman Bharat-PM Jan Arogya Yojana in these states.
Free health schemes of Delhi Government
Treatment is free in all government hospitals of Delhi. If the waiting period is more than 30 days, you can get treatment in a private hospital, the cost of which will be borne by the Delhi government. For this, it is necessary to have a Delhi voter card.In Delhi, a person injured in a road accident can also be treated in a nearby private hospital. This expense is borne by the Delhi government.Delhi Arogya Kosh Yojana (DAK) – Under the Delhi Arogya Kosh Yojana, Delhiites are getting facilities like free treatment in tests, implants, surgery etc. Every citizen of Delhi who has a Delhi voter card can get treatment under this scheme. The Delhi government bears the cost of implants up to Rs 5 lakh.
The government runs this scheme for free treatment in West Bengal
Under the ‘Swasthya Sathi’ scheme in West Bengal, those getting treatment in government hospitals are given the benefit of free treatment by the health department. Talking about the specialty, under the scheme, the people of the state get health cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family every year. All pre-existing diseases are covered in this paperless, cashless, smart card based scheme. There is no limit on the size of the family and the parents of both the husband and wife are included in it. All dependent physically handicapped persons in the family are also covered. Its entire cost is borne by the Government of West Bengal and the eligible beneficiary does not have to make any contribution in it.
Under the Swasthya Sathi scheme run by West Bengal for free treatment, every family is provided with an online Swasthya Sathi smart card on the day of enrollment. The smart card contains details of family members, photo, biometric, address, mobile number, SECC ID. The scheme is managed on a paperless IT platform from day one. Beneficiaries get SMS triggers and instant alerts when the card is blocked. Real-time uploading of e-health records of beneficiaries is included upon discharge. It is necessary to claim reimbursement to the hospital within 30 days otherwise interest will be charged on delayed payment. An Android-based Swasthya Sathi mobile app is also available to assist the beneficiaries.
Odisha
According to recent reports, Odisha is on the verge of joining the Ayushman Bharat-PM Jan Arogya Yojana. The BJP-led Odisha government is expected to sign an MoU with the National Health Authority, the agency responsible for implementing the scheme, in the coming days. Once Odisha joins the scheme, only Delhi and West Bengal will be left out. According to a senior health ministry official, all other states and union territories have already adopted the scheme.
On the occasion of the successful completion of six years of the scheme, a post made by the National Health Authority on the social media platform X stated that Rs 1.07 lakh crore has been approved for the treatment of 7.8 crore patients admitted to hospitals so far under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri-Jan Arogya Yojana. Eligible beneficiaries of the scheme can avail cashless and paperless health services on admission to about 30,000 listed hospitals across the country. In a press release issued by the Ministry of Health in early August this year, it was stated that in the latest National Master of this Health Benefit Package (HBP), cashless health services are provided for cases related to 1949 procedures including general medicine, surgery, cardio (heart), onco (cancer) under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri-Jan Arogya Yojana. Apart from this, health services are also being provided to patients at 27 specialty health centers across the country under the scheme.
