PM Modi calls Ayushman Bharat rollout in Delhi a ‘revolutionary step’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 11 praised the rollout of two major central government health initiatives in Delhi, calling it a "revolutionary" move for the national capital.

“This mission of the double-engine government is going to be very beneficial for lakhs of brothers and sisters in Delhi. I am delighted that people of Delhi, too, can now receive treatment under the Ayushman scheme,” Modi said in a post on X.

The remarks came days after a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on April 5 between the Delhi BJP-led government and the Centre to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), a flagship health insurance programme.

A second MoU was signed on April 10 to bring the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) into effect in Delhi.

Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta said, “Today marks a historic milestone in Delhi’s healthcare journey. Under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, the Delhi government has implemented PM-ABHIM and commenced Ayushman Bharat card distribution under PM-JAY. My heartfelt thanks to the Prime Minister for this significant initiative. This is a concrete step towards #ViksitDelhi.”

PM-ABHIM, launched in October 2021, is aimed at strengthening public health systems and preparing infrastructure to better respond to future pandemics and disease outbreaks.

The schemes had previously been declined by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led government in Delhi.

Union Health Minister J P Nadda, speaking on April 10, said that public discontent is evident in states where governments opposed these central programs. “The state governments opposed to these programs are being voted out by people,” Nadda said.