In a significant boost to healthcare access and financial protection, West Bengal is set to become the 36th State/Union Territory to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), bringing the state into the fold of the world's largest publicly funded health insurance programme.

The National Health Authority (NHA) and the Government of West Bengal are scheduled to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi, marking a major step towards expanding universal health coverage and ensuring affordable healthcare for millions of eligible residents in the state.

The MoU signing ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan will be presided over by Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and attended by several senior leaders and officials from the Centre and the state government, including Ministers of State for Health and Family Welfare, senior bureaucrats, and representatives of the National Health Authority.

With West Bengal joining the scheme, Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY will now be implemented across 36 States and Union Territories, further strengthening the Centre's flagship healthcare initiative aimed at reducing the financial burden of medical treatment on vulnerable families.

Launched as a cornerstone of India's healthcare reforms, AB PM-JAY provides health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalization. The scheme enables eligible beneficiaries to access cashless treatment at a vast network of empanelled public and private hospitals across the country.

Health experts believe the inclusion of West Bengal could significantly improve healthcare access for millions of families while protecting them from catastrophic medical expenses that often push households into debt.

The move is also expected to enhance the state's healthcare ecosystem by increasing treatment options, strengthening hospital networks, and allowing beneficiaries to avail healthcare services beyond state boundaries through the scheme's portability feature.

Officials said the implementation of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY in West Bengal represents an important milestone in India's ongoing efforts to ensure equitable, affordable, and accessible healthcare for every citizen, regardless of geographical location or economic status.

As the country continues its journey towards universal health coverage, the addition of West Bengal is being viewed as a major development that could bring quality healthcare within reach of millions more Indians.