Delhi implements Ayushman Bharat scheme in deal with Centre, card distribution from April 10

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government, under BJP leadership, has partnered with the central government to bring the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to the national capital.

By signing an agreement on Saturday, Delhi became the 35th state/Union Territory to adopt this health scheme, leaving West Bengal as the sole non-participating state.

The healthcare programme offers complimentary treatment covering 1,961 medical procedures across 27 specialities, including medicines, diagnostics, hospital stays, intensive care, and surgical interventions.

Qualifying Delhi households will receive yearly health insurance worth Rs 10 lakh, split equally between central and Delhi government contributions at Rs 5 lakh each.

The agreement was formalised between Delhi authorities and the National Health Authority , with Union Health Minister JP Nadda and Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta attending the ceremony.

Nadda highlighted the significance of the scheme stating, "Ayushman Bharat is the world's largest health coverage scheme. It is an 'assurance scheme'... It is the first scheme that covers the poor through socio-economic caste census and occupation. The average share of health treatment expenses which was 62% in 2014, has now come down to 38%. About 6.5 lakh families or 30 lakh people will benefit from the MoU signed today."

#WATCH | Delhi | Union Health Minister JP Nadda says, "Ayushman Bharat is the world's largest health coverage scheme. It is an 'assurance scheme'... It is the first scheme that covers the poor through socio-economic caste census and occupation... The average share of health… https://t.co/W8E7tWsgnl pic.twitter.com/BU3de8LTyr

— ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2025

Speaking after the MoU signing, Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta claimed that the move rectifies a long-standing gap in healthcare access for Delhi’s residents. “The people of Delhi were victims of the previous state government's confrontation with the Centre. While the rest of the country was benefiting from Ayushman Bharat, people here were left struggling for treatment,” she said.

“It is a matter of happiness for Delhi. The Delhi government will add Rs 5 lakh to the Rs 5 lakh coverage provided by the Centre, offering a total health insurance cover of Rs 10 lakh for eligible households," she added.

VIDEO | After signing of MoU between Delhi government and central government over Ayushman Bharat Scheme, CM Rekha Gupta (@gupta_rekha) says, "The Delhi people were victim of state government getting at loggerheads with central government. They did not implement this scheme here,… pic.twitter.com/y4luabSTgV

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 5, 2025

Further explaining the plan to further develop healthcare the CM announced, "We will complete those 24 new hospitals that were left unfinished by the previous governments, and to complete them, we have allocated a fund of Rs 1000 crore in the Delhi Government's budget. I also thank the Central Government for the 400 new health and wellness centres to be started in Delhi under the name Ayushman Arogya Mandir." Further praising PM Modi and the signing of the deal, she said, "Today, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Delhi's double-engine government is starting a new health revolution in Delhi"

#WATCH | At the MoU signing ceremony between Delhi Government and National Health Authority on PM JAY Ayushman Bharat Yojana, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, says, "We will complete those 24 new hospitals that were left unfinished by the previous governments, and to complete them, we have… pic.twitter.com/IkPVcsRJLJ

— ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2025

The National Health Authority serves as the principal organisation overseeing the Ayushman Bharat health insurance programme's implementation.

A dedicated drive will commence to register eligible beneficiaries following the agreement's execution.

The BJP, which assumed control in Delhi this February after a 26-year interval, sanctioned the scheme's implementation during its inaugural cabinet session following the February 20 swearing-in of CM Gupta and her ministerial colleagues.