Ayushman Bharat Scheme In Delhi: 4.55 Lakh Cards Issued So Far, New 10-Day Enrollment Drive To Start From September 1

The Delhi government is set to start a 10-day drive to enroll people under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme. It will start on September 1, 2025, and camps will be held at different public distribution systems (PDS) in Delhi. Ayushman Bharat Scheme, which was launched in Delhi in April this year, has so far enrolled and issued around 4.55 Ayushman Cards to eligible beneficiaries, including eligible senior citizen beneficiaries. Since the scheme is open for senior citizens aged 70 and above, irrespective of their socio-economic background, around 2.28 lakh seniors above 70 years have also enrolled in this scheme, for whom their Ayushman Vaya Vandana health cards have been issued.

The 10-day drive is to increase the number of enrollments under the scheme. Under this 10-day campaign, Delhi ration cardholders can visit a nearby camp and register themselves under the scheme using their Aadhaar details. So, while collecting their ration, they can also enroll them under the scheme.

The purpose is to enhance enrollment numbers and bring more people under the scheme, and improve and make healthcare services conveniently available to the beneficiaries.

The eligible beneficiaries of the scheme in Delhi get a total of Rs 10 lakh insurance benefits along with OPD services at Ayuhsman Mandirs in the city. The insurance includes Rs 5 lakh each from the Centre and the Delhi government.

Under the scheme, beneficiaries can get cashless treatment benefits for 1961 medical procedures. These include diagnostic, hospitalisation, surgeries, ICU care, geriatric care, among others, and also covers the cost of medicines.

Since its launch in Delhi, more than 5,000 patients have benefitted from the scheme, reported PTI, citing Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Singh.

At present, there are a total of 140 hospitals empanelled under the scheme, including both private and state-run hospitals. However, known hospital chains, such as Fortis, Apollo, and Max, are not in the list. According to the minister, hospitals feel hesitant to join the scheme, skeptical of payment delays and pending payment bills with the previous government, but these are not being cleared, and more hospitals are in line for empanelment, Fortis being one of them, per a Hindustan Times report. 

The government plans to empanel around 70 more hospitals soon, per a PTI report. Reportedly, the Delhi government has released more than Rs 7 crore so far for the claims made by the hospitals for treating patients under the health insurance benefits.