Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh
| Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO
Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh on Tuesday said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Centre will be signed to implement heath insurance scheme – Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) – in Delhi on April 10, with the aim of enrolling one lakh people in the first month.
Once the MoU is signed, hospitals will be empanelled for the scheme, and health workers will be tasked with helping eligible families obtain health cards.
Extending AB-PMJAY to the Capital was one of the key promises made by the BJP during the Delhi Assembly poll. Launched in 2018, the scheme has been implemented in all States except West Bengal and Delhi. The scheme provides eligible families with health cover of ₹5 lakh, which the BJP government in Delhi has decided to top up with another ₹ 5 lakh. The ruling party cleared the implementation of the scheme in the first Cabinet meeting on February 20.
The previous AAP government, which was in power in Delhi for 10 years, did not join the scheme, saying that under its Delhi Arogya Kosh, free treatment was already being provided to the city’s people.
The Union government recently expanded PM-JAY coverage for all individuals aged 70 and above, ensuring coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family irrespective of income.
Mohalla Clinics
The Delhi Health Minister reiterated that non-operational Mohalla Clinics will be shut down. “Currently, each assembly constituency has about seven such clinics running from rented premises. Since we have our own land, why not build them [Mohalla clinics] there instead? Around 160 such clinics on rent that aren’t functioning properly will be shut down,” he said.
The Mohalla Clinics were the flagship scheme of the previous Aam Aadmi Party for providing free primary health care.
Published – March 19, 2025 01:34 am IST