West Bengal joins Ayushman Bharat scheme
GS2Polity · Governance · IR· Health policy & public health· Prelims + Mains·
Why in news
West Bengal signed an MoU with the National Health Authority to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), becoming the 36th state/UT to join.
Background
The MoU was signed between the National Health Authority (NHA) and the West Bengal Department of Health & Family Welfare. Since its launch in September 2018, the scheme has provided over 12 crore treatments worth more than ₹1.82 lakh crore.
Facts for Prelims
- SchemeAyushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) aims to provide financial protection and quality healthcare to poor and vulnerable families.
- FactWest Bengal is the 36th state/union territory to join the AB PM-JAY scheme.
- FactThe scheme has provided over 12 crore treatments worth more than ₹1.82 lakh crore since September 2018.
- BodyThe National Health Authority (NHA) is the body responsible for implementing the scheme.
For Mains
Q. Discuss how the Ayushman Bharat scheme addresses the challenge of out-of-pocket expenditure and promotes universal health coverage in India.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Fiscal federalism: Balancing central funding with state-level healthcare infrastructure and implementation
- Equity in access: Bridging the rural-urban healthcare divide for vulnerable populations
- Out-of-pocket expenditure: Reducing catastrophic health spending through pre-paid insurance models
Keywords: Universal Health Coverage · Out-of-pocket expenditure · Fiscal Federalism · Public Health Infrastructure · Social Security
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