Delhi Govt Joins Centre To Implement Ayushman Bharat Scheme

The Delhi government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Centre to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) in the national capital. The agreement, signed on Saturday, marks a key step toward expanding healthcare access in the city and was part of the BJP's election manifesto ahead of the recent Assembly polls.

With this move, eligible families in Delhi will now receive annual health insurance coverage of up to ₹10 lakh - ₹5 lakh provided by the Centre and another ₹5 lakh contributed by the Delhi government as a top-up.

Delhi has become the 35th state or Union Territory to adopt the Ayushman Bharat scheme, leaving West Bengal as the only state yet to implement it.

The agreement was formalised between the Delhi government and the National Health Authority (NHA), the central body responsible for managing the scheme. Union Health Minister JP Nadda and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta were present at the signing ceremony.

The decision to roll out the scheme was taken during the newly elected BJP government's first cabinet meeting, held soon after Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and her council of ministers took oath on February 20. The party returned to power in the capital after more than 26 years.

What the Scheme Offers

The Ayushman Bharat scheme provides completely free and cashless medical treatment across 1,961 procedures and 27 specialities. This includes coverage for hospital stays, medicines, diagnostic tests, surgeries, ICU care, and other critical health services - without any direct cost to eligible families.

Next Steps for Delhi

Following the agreement, the Delhi government will launch an extensive enrolment drive to bring eligible beneficiaries under the scheme. The focus will be on identifying and registering qualifying residents so they can begin accessing the full range of health services covered under the ₹10 lakh annual insurance.