Nadda Meets Bengal CM, Pushes PM-JAY Rollout
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The discussions focused on improving coordination between the Centre and the state to ensure wider and faster access to the scheme.
Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda has urged West Bengal to speed up the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) following a high-level meeting with West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari.
The discussions focused on improving coordination between the Centre and the state to ensure wider and faster access to the scheme. PM-JAY, which provides health insurance coverage to economically vulnerable families, has seen limited progress in the state, and the Centre is pushing for quicker onboarding of beneficiaries and empanelment of hospitals.
The Union Health Minister urged the state to expedite the signing of the MoU for implementation of PM-JAY, saying nearly 1.45 crore families, including senior citizens, would benefit from the scheme.
He also said the Centre was ready to provide technical assistance, expert teams and training support for healthcare capacity building in the state.
According to sources, Nadda stressed the need for time-bound execution and better alignment of administrative systems to enable smoother rollout.
During the meeting, the Centre also raised the issue of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and asked the state to expand coverage.
The focus was on increasing awareness and improving last-mile delivery to ensure higher uptake among eligible groups, particularly adolescent girls, as part of preventive healthcare efforts.
The push for faster PM-JAY implementation comes against the backdrop of recent financial support from the Centre aimed at strengthening West Bengal’s healthcare infrastructure. The Union government has allocated INR 3,505 crore to the state to improve healthcare delivery, upgrade medical facilities, and enhance digital health systems.
This funding is expected to support hospital capacity, technology integration, and service expansion, all of which are critical for the effective rollout of large-scale schemes like PM-JAY.
PM-JAY is a key component of the Centre’s broader strategy to expand access to affordable healthcare and reduce out-of-pocket expenditure. However, its success depends significantly on state-level execution, including beneficiary identification, hospital participation, and claims processing systems.
In states where implementation has been faster, the scheme has improved access to secondary and tertiary care services.
The meeting focused on addressing implementation gaps and improving coordination between the Centre and the state. With funding already allocated, discussions centred on the next steps for execution and operational progress.
The rollout of PM-JAY in West Bengal remains dependent on administrative coordination, beneficiary enrolment, and hospital participation.
Seeking greater central support, Adhikari proposed expansion of Jan Aushadhi Kendras, establishment of additional medical colleges in underserved districts and setting up of an AIIMS in north Bengal to improve tertiary healthcare access in the region. He also flagged the need for stronger preparedness against monsoon-linked diseases such as malaria and dengue.
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