Mansukh Mandaviya, the Union Health Minister, suggested on Friday that the West Bengal government implement the AB-PMJAY national health insurance program at the local level for the state’s residents. “We are dedicated to offering top-notch healthcare services to all West Bengal residents. Under the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Indian government is dedicated to offering top-notch medical care to all of its residents.
For the benefit of the people of West Bengal, the State Government should put Ayushman Bharat into practice, according to Mandaviya, who also noted that the Federal government is taking all necessary measures to guarantee that the state’s health services are of the highest caliber. The Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) was one of the programs the minister reviewed that delivers health services in the state.
PMJAY, launched on September 23, 2018, gives an annual health cover of Rs 5 lakh to eligible families.
So far, 30 of 33 states have agreed to the co-branding plan except for Delhi, Odisha, and West Bengal which have opted to remain out of it.
Accusing the central government of taking all the credit for it, West Bengal pulled out of the scheme in 2019.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had said she would be willing to rejoin if the Centre funded the scheme fully.
During his visit, Mandaviya reviewed the Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres, the National TB Elimination Program, the status of funds released under the National Health Mission (NHM), Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), Telemedicine services, Medical Education, and Sickle Cell Anemia Elimination Program.