Decks cleared for Ayushman Bharat insurance cover in city

The Delhi government on Saturday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Union ministry of health and family welfare to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) scheme in the Capital. Officials said Delhi is the 35th state or Union territory to implement the scheme.

- Ridhima Gupta and Alok KN Mishra

Officials said that the distribution of Ayushman Bharat cards will begin from April 10. The MoU was signed between the state government and the National Health Authority, the nodal agency responsible for implementing the Ayushman Bharat scheme nationwide.

Speaking on the occasion at Rang Bhawan in Delhi, Union health minister JP Nadda, said that this scheme is an "assurance" scheme as it is built on trust and not an insurance scheme. "It is a moment of pride that the world's largest health coverage scheme, which has been in place across 34 states and UTs in the country, is finally being implemented in the national capital as well," Nadda said.

The implementation of the Ayushman Bharat scheme was a bone of contention between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi.