The National Health Authority (NHA) on 9 March 2021, has entered into an agreement with UTI Infrastructure Technology and Services Limited (UTIITSL) to issue free PVC Ayushman card to eligible beneficiaries of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) in 11 States including Union Territories.

This development is in line to reach out to the maximum beneficiaries of the scheme. UTIITSL is one of the largest financial service providers in India.

UTIITSL is second agency after Common Service Centre (CSC SPV) which has been empanelled by the NHA to provide free PVC Ayushman cards to the beneficiaries.

The facility to issue free Ayushman cards has been rolled out in 11 States/ UTs i.e. Bihar, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Tripura, Nagaland, Chandigarh, Puducherry, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttarakhand with immediate effect.

In the coming days, the facility would be extended to more States/UTs on the basis of concurrence from the respective States/UTs.

Until now, beneficiaries were required to pay Rs. 30 as fees at UTI Infrastructure Technology and Services Limited (UTIITSL).

Ayushman cards generated at any of the PM-JAY empanelled hospitals, however, were issued for free and will continue to be issued free of charge.

Dr. Ram Sewak Sharma, CEO, Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) said, “NHA’s MoU with UTI Infrastructure Technology and Services Limited (UTIITSL) aims reach to all AB-PMJAY beneficiaries so that they can get the healthcare benefits under the scheme without any hassle.”

“The PVC Ayushman cards are of good quality, safe, durable, easy to handle which is free of cost for the beneficiaries. In the recent past, the NHA has also signed MoU with Common Service Centres (CVC) for generating PVC Ayushman cards. Ayushman card gives a sense of entitlement and empowerment to the beneficiaries. NHA along with its counterparts in States/UTs are making all efforts to ensure that beneficiaries are not only aware about the scheme but also they are empowered to seek free healthcare services under the scheme,” said Dr. Sharma.

Under this initiative, AB-PMJAY beneficiaries will receive a paper-based card on the spot post-approval of the record. Subsequently, a printed PVC Ayushman card would be provided to the beneficiary which can be collected from the same UTIITSL center. However, those service providers who will have the facility to print the PVC card can issue the card in the first instant itself.

The Ayushman card is not an essential requirement to avail of healthcare benefits under the AB PM-JAY scheme. It is a mechanism for the identification and verification of beneficiaries to enable seamless delivery of health services.