The West Bengal government has integrated the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) with the state’s Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana (MSBY), enabling beneficiaries to access cashless treatment not only within the state but also at empanelled hospitals across India.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that the combined network will include 1,240 private hospitals and 627 government healthcare facilities in West Bengal, while beneficiaries will also be able to avail services at nearly 38,600 hospitals nationwide under the Ayushman Bharat ecosystem.
The unified health coverage will provide cashless treatment benefits of up to ₹5 lakh per family. Around 80 lakh families not covered under Ayushman Bharat will continue to receive similar benefits through the state health insurance scheme. Additionally, nearly 40 lakh senior citizens will be included under the state programme without any eligibility restrictions.
The integration has also expanded the number of treatment packages available to beneficiaries to around 1,950, compared with more than 1,700 procedures covered under the earlier state scheme.
As part of the initiative, beneficiaries will have access to affordable medicines through around 100 Amrit pharmacies and nearly 480 Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendras operating in government hospitals across the state.
The state government also launched an eye care programme and distributed health cards during the event. Addressing concerns raised by some private hospitals over reimbursement rates, the Chief Minister assured that the government would hold discussions with healthcare providers to ensure smooth implementation and uninterrupted patient care.
The Centre is expected to contribute about ₹1,000 crore towards implementation of Ayushman Bharat in West Bengal, with the remaining share to be funded by the state government. The move is expected to enhance access to specialised healthcare services for residents while strengthening public-private collaboration in the state’s health system.