In a social media statement issued on Monday afternoon, the Chief Minister claimed that there are currently 3.23 crore active cards in West Bengal, under which 3.23 crore beneficiaries across the state are now getting guaranteed financial protection of up to Rs 500,000.
He also informed that so far 31,541 people have been admitted to hospitals in the state under this scheme. The Chief Minister’s social media statement said thousands of patients have received timely treatment in empaneled hospitals, without cash payment, and their families have not been put into financial crisis.
He also said that out of 31,541 hospitalized patients, 716 patients were from outside the state.
The Chief Minister claimed that patients from West Bengal have received uninterrupted treatment in major institutions across India, taking advantage of the nationwide transportation facility.
According to him, from increasing healthcare access in rural areas to providing seamless healthcare access across the country, the scheme has started fundamentally changing the healthcare landscape of West Bengal.
Remember, the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal did not allow the Ayushman Bharat scheme to be implemented because the then Chief Minister said that there was no need for a central health insurance scheme for West Bengal due to the existence of the state health insurance scheme ‘Swasth Sathi’.
After taking charge as the ninth Chief Minister of West Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari first implemented the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme in the state.
Furthermore, the Chief Minister also announced that those who will not be eligible for the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme will be covered under the Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana. The coverage amount will remain only Rs 5 lakh per year.