Convergence of Aarogyasri, Ayushman Bharat to benefit 1.3 cr people in Telangana: NHA

The National Health Authority (NHA) recently signed an MoU with the Government of Telangana to integrate Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) with the State’s scheme ‘Aarogyasri’. With this convergence, about 26 lakh beneficiary families (around 1.3 crore individuals) will be eligible to avail services under the scheme in the State, the NHA said.

The beneficiaries are entitled to avail free healthcare coverage of up to Rs 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. Health services can be availed in any of the 22,000 empanelled public and private hospitals across the country through the scheme’s portability feature.

The NHA along with the State Health Agency will undertake necessary action to ensure that all eligible beneficiaries are provided free healthcare services under the converged scheme.

Dr R S Sharma, CEO, National Health Authority, said, “The beneficiaries from the State are now eligible to avail free healthcare services



pan-India through our network of more than 22,000 hospitals. This is not only going to benefit the eligible families in the State but will also enable the delivery of healthcare services to PM-JAY beneficiaries from other States/UTs living in Telangana. The providers’ base has also increased.”

“Our call centre has started getting calls from the eligible population in the State. We are committed to taking the benefit of the scheme to all eligible beneficiaries,” Sharma added.

While the eligible population of the State would benefit from free healthcare services across the country, the launch of a converged scheme will lead to effective utilisation of resources for providing healthcare services.

NHA will provide auxiliary support to the State Health Agency (SHA) including aspects such as fraud and abuse control. A beneficiary can call the toll-free number 14555 to know about their eligibility under the scheme and information on how to avail services.