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Explained: Why Bengal has withdrawn from Centre’s flagship health scheme PMJAY
News:
Bengal has withdrawn from Centre’s flagship health scheme Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojna (PMJAY)
Important Facts:
- West Bengal has withdrawn from flagship programme PMJAY, joining 3 other states.
Why has West Bengal exited?
- Branding Dispute – The letter sent to beneficiaries has photos of Prime Minister; the West Bengal government feels that given the 60:40 partnership in the scheme, the state government should get similar space on documents.
- Name of the scheme – West Bengal government wanted to call the scheme Jan Arogya Yojana rather than Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
- Beneficiaries issues – Kolkata being the preferred destination for many people from the Northeast and from states such as Bihar, it fear it could impact more people than just the beneficiaries in West Bengal.
Why have three other states stayed out?
- Odisha – Government announced the launch of Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) about 40 days before the launch of PMJAY. BSKY aimed to provide insurance cover up to Rs 5 lakh per eligible family and Rs 7 lakh for treatment of female members.
- Delhi – Government of NCT of Delhi has approved Mukhya Mantri Aam Aad(m)i Swasthya Bima Yojana Ayushman Bharat for implementation in Delhi.
- Telangana – Telangana already has one of the oldest functioning tertiary care health schemes in the country. A community health insurance scheme, Arogyashri provides financial protection to families living below the poverty line up to Rs 2 lakh in a year for the treatment of serious ailments requiring hospitalization and surgery
Additional Facts:
- West Bengal’s Swasthyasathi scheme – Launched in 2016 provides a basic health cover for secondary and tertiary care up to Rs 5 lakh per annum per family, the same as PMJAY
