West Bengal Allocates INR 3,100 Cr for Ayushman Bharat Rollout, Hospitals Prepare for July 1 Enrollment
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The scheme, which offers health insurance coverage of up to INR 5 lakh per family for economically vulnerable populations, is expected to cover nearly 7 crore residents across the state.
West Bengal has allocated ₹3,100 crore for the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), with private hospitals across Kolkata preparing to begin patient enrollment under the scheme from July 1.
The allocation was announced by State Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta during the presentation of the state budget in the Assembly on Monday. The scheme, which offers health insurance coverage of up to INR 5 lakh per family for economically vulnerable populations, is expected to cover nearly 7 crore residents across the state.
Several private healthcare providers have either completed their onboarding process or are awaiting final approvals to participate in the program. Hospitals said they are preparing operationally to start accepting eligible beneficiaries once the scheme becomes active in the state.
Rupali Basu, Regional Business Head at HCG Cancer Hospitals, said the hospital has completed the required onboarding procedures and is ready to offer services under the scheme. She noted that the initiative could improve access to quality healthcare for eligible patients while maintaining uniform clinical standards across payment mechanisms.
Woodlands Multispeciality Hospital, which has applied for registration, said the funding allocation could strengthen financial protection for patients by reducing out-of-pocket healthcare expenses and improving access to advanced treatment options.
Belle Vue Clinic recently completed its registration on the Ayushman Bharat portal and received its AB-HFR hospital facility registry number following a physical inspection by state health authorities. The hospital said it is now part of the Ayushman Bharat network and is prepared to receive beneficiaries.
Peerless Hospital, which was already empaneled under the Ayushman Bharat network for patients from other states, said it would begin treating beneficiaries from West Bengal once enrollment cards are issued.
Hospital administrators indicated that facilities will continue serving patients under the state-run Swasthya Sathi scheme until further clarity is provided on its integration with Ayushman Bharat. Some providers said operational guidance from the health department on the transition process would be helpful before the July rollout.
Charnock Hospital said it expects to complete its registration shortly, while Ruby General Hospital confirmed that it has received its HFR number and is now linked to provide treatment to Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries from West Bengal.
The state government's allocation marks the first implementation of AB-PMJAY in West Bengal, paving the way for the scheme's launch next month.
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