The West Bengal government has allocated ₹3,100 crore in the 2026 State Budget for the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), marking the state’s first formal rollout of the Centre’s flagship health assurance scheme. The announcement was made by Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta while presenting the Budget in the State Assembly.

The allocation is expected to facilitate the implementation of one of the world’s largest publicly funded health insurance programmes, extending cashless healthcare coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalization to nearly 7 crore people across West Bengal. The move is expected to significantly improve financial protection against high medical expenses for economically vulnerable families.

Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY provides coverage for more than 1,900 medical and surgical procedures, including treatments related to cardiology, oncology, orthopaedics, nephrology, neurosurgery and critical care. Beneficiaries can avail cashless treatment at empanelled public and private hospitals across India, reducing out of pocket expenditure on hospitalization.

The inclusion of West Bengal is expected to substantially expand the scheme’s national reach. According to the National Health Authority (NHA), more than 44 crore Ayushman cards have been issued across the country, while over 12 crore hospital admissions have been authorized under the scheme since its launch in 2018. The programme has emerged as a key pillar of India’s efforts to achieve universal health coverage by improving access to affordable healthcare services.

Healthcare experts believe the state’s participation in AB-PMJAY will strengthen healthcare accessibility while complementing existing investments in medical infrastructure and hospital capacity. The Budget also includes proposals for establishing an AIIMS in North Bengal, a dedicated cancer hospital and expanding medical education, reflecting a broader strategy to improve healthcare delivery across the state.

The ₹3,100 crore allocation is expected to reduce the financial burden of hospitalization for millions of families and encourage greater utilization of quality healthcare services. Studies have consistently shown that out of pocket expenditure remains one of the biggest challenges for Indian households, often pushing families into financial distress during medical emergencies.

With the Budget allocation, West Bengal joins other states in implementing the national health protection programme, paving the way for wider access to cashless treatment and strengthening the state’s healthcare ecosystem. The initiative is expected to play a significant role in improving health outcomes, expanding insurance coverage and advancing equitable access to quality healthcare for millions of residents.