West Bengal Becomes 36th State/UT to Implement Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY

📌 Summary:

• West Bengal became the 36th State/UT to implement Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY; the National Health Authority (NHA) signed an MoU with the WB Dept of Health & Family Welfare, completing nationwide adoption
• Extends health assurance to ~1.43 crore families (CM cited ~1.24 crore eligible families) in West Bengal
• AB PM-JAY (launched Sept 2018) is the world's largest govt-funded health assurance programme; over 12 crore treatments worth >₹1.82 lakh crore availed
• Out-of-pocket health expenditure fell from 64.6% (pre-2018) to 43.4%; a Lancet study found ~90% of eligible cancer patients accessed treatment within 30 days
• Portability lets WB migrant workers get cashless treatment at empanelled hospitals nationwide; WB also launched HPV vaccination (May 30, 2026) for 14-yr-old girls (33,000+ of 7.65 lakh target done); GoI released ₹527 crore to WB under NHM

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 governance & social justice — Universal Health Coverage, welfare delivery, and cooperative federalism in extending a central scheme statewide.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• AB PM-JAY launched September 2018; implemented by the National Health Authority (NHA) under MoHFW
• Provides cashless cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year; West Bengal is the 36th State/UT to adopt it
• Out-of-pocket health expenditure declined 64.6% → 43.4%

🔑 Key Term: Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) — health spending borne directly by households; a key indicator of financial protection and progress toward Universal Health Coverage.