In a significant policy shift, the Delhi government is set to sign 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-PMJAY) in the national capital. This move will officially bring Delhi under the umbrella of India’s largest publicly funded health insurance scheme, ensuring free and cashless healthcare coverage for lakhs of eligible beneficiaries in the city.

The formal signing ceremony is expected to take place on April 5, 2025, following years of legal and political debates over Delhi’s inclusion in the scheme. The decision follows an assurance given by the Delhi government to the Supreme Court in February 2025, ending a prolonged legal battle.

Background of the Ayushman Bharat Dispute in Delhi
The Ayushman Bharat scheme, launched by the central government in 2018, provides ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary healthcare services. While most Indian states adopted the scheme, Delhi had refused to sign the MoU, citing concerns over the branding and funding mechanism of the initiative.

Instead, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government opted to expand its own healthcare programs, such as Delhi’s Farishtey Scheme and Mohalla Clinics, arguing that they provided better coverage for Delhi residents. However, opposition parties and the central government consistently criticized Delhi’s reluctance, claiming that many poor families were being deprived of essential healthcare benefits available across the country.

Legal and Political Developments Leading to the MoU
The disagreement over Ayushman Bharat in Delhi reached the Delhi High Court in December 2024, when the court directed the state government to sign the MoU with the Union Health Ministry by January 5, 2025. The Delhi government challenged this order in the Supreme Court, arguing that healthcare policies fell under the jurisdiction of the state government.

In January 2025, the Supreme Court temporarily stayed the High Court’s directive, allowing Delhi to continue its independent healthcare initiatives. However, in February 2025, the Delhi government informed the Supreme Court that it had decided to implement Ayushman Bharat, withdrawing its objections. This marked a major shift in policy, ultimately leading to the planned MoU signing.

What This Means for Delhi’s Healthcare System
With the MoU in place, lakhs of eligible beneficiaries in Delhi will now have access to cashless treatment in empaneled hospitals under Ayushman Bharat, including top private and government healthcare institutions. The key highlights of the agreement include:

Free Treatment for Economically Weaker Sections: Beneficiaries identified through Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 will be entitled to ₹5 lakh insurance coverage per family per year.

Inclusion of Delhi’s Government and Private Hospitals: Leading hospitals such as AIIMS Delhi, Safdarjung, Lok Nayak, and GTB Hospital, along with many private hospitals, will be empaneled for cashless treatments.

Coexistence with Delhi’s Health Initiatives: The Delhi government has clarified that Ayushman Bharat will complement, not replace, existing schemes like Mohalla Clinics and Delhi’s Free Medicines Scheme.

Digital Health Integration: Beneficiaries will be issued Ayushman Cards, and their health records will be linked with the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) for streamlined access to medical services.

Political Reactions and Public Response
The Delhi government’s decision to implement Ayushman Bharat has drawn mixed reactions from political stakeholders.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya welcomed the decision, stating, “This will ensure quality healthcare access for Delhi’s residents, particularly for underprivileged families.”
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal reassured citizens that the decision was taken in their best interest, saying, “We remain committed to strengthening Delhi’s healthcare model. Ayushman Bharat will complement our existing initiatives and ensure that no citizen is left behind.”
Opposition leaders accused the AAP government of delaying the inevitable, with some arguing that Delhiites lost out on five years of Ayushman Bharat benefits due to political disagreements.
Next Steps: Implementation Roadmap
The Delhi government, in collaboration with the National Health Authority (NHA), will now work on:

Identifying and enrolling eligible beneficiaries in the scheme.
Empaneling hospitals across Delhi to offer cashless treatment.
Setting up a grievance redressal system to address concerns of patients and hospitals.

Launching awareness campaigns to inform Delhi’s residents about the scheme’s benefits and how to avail them.
With the MoU signing on April 5, Delhi is set to become the latest state to fully integrate Ayushman Bharat, bridging the gap in universal healthcare access for its residents. This historic decision is expected to transform the healthcare landscape of the capital and provide financial protection to thousands of families in need.

Conclusion
By adopting Ayushman Bharat, Delhi joins a national movement aimed at achieving universal health coverage. The decision signifies a major policy shift and brings relief to thousands of citizens who have long awaited inclusion in India’s largest healthcare scheme. As the national capital prepares to roll out the scheme, its successful implementation will be closely watched as a benchmark for healthcare governance in India.