West Bengal Joins Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY as 36th State — 1.43 crore Families Covered

On 8 June 2026 , the National Health Authority (NHA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the West Bengal government to launch the AB PM-JAY in the state. West Bengal becomes the 36th State/UT to implement the scheme, extending benefits to roughly 1.43 crore families (about 6 crore people). Key Developments MoU signed by Dr. Sunil Kumar Barnwal , CEO of NHA, and Shri Narayan Swaroop Nigam , Principal Secretary, Health, West Bengal. Coverage includes 1.24 crore eligible families plus 3.06 lakh families of ASHAs, Anganwadi workers, and 15.95 lakh senior‑citizen families , bringing the total to 1.43 crore families . Central government contribution estimated at ~₹1,000 crore annually for scheme implementation. Portability feature will allow migrant workers to receive cashless treatment in any empanelled hospital across India. State‑wide HPV Vaccination Programme launched on 30 May 2026, with >33,000 girls vaccinated out of a target of 7.65 lakh. Continued push under TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan , with >80 % of legislators sensitised. Important Facts Since its launch in September 2018, the scheme has authorized >12 crore treatments worth >₹1.82 lakh crore. Out‑of‑pocket health expenditure fell from 64.6 % (pre‑2018) to 43.4 % (2026). Nearly 90 % of eligible cancer patients accessed treatment within 30 days, as per a Lancet study. More than 44 crore Ayushman cards issued; women constitute almost half of beneficiaries. UPSC Relevance The rollout illustrates the government's push for Universal Health Coverage (UHC). It showcases inter‑governmental coordination (centre‑state), fiscal federalism (₹527 crore released under NHM), and the use of digital platforms for health delivery – all recurring themes in the UPSC syllabus. Way Forward Strengthen monitoring mechanisms to ensure cashless, paperless transactions at empanelled hospitals. Expand the network of empanelled hospitals, especially in rural districts. Integrate the scheme with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission for real‑time data sharing. Scale up preventive programmes like HPV vaccination and TB elimination to complement curative benefits. Engage community health workers (ASHAs, Anganwadi staff) to create awareness about eligibility and claim processes.