The Delhi government is preparing to add 100 more hospitals to the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) within the next ten days. This step is expected to provide wider healthcare access to patients across the city. The expansion will include some of the country’s top private hospital chains such as Fortis Healthcare.
Currently, 151 hospitals in Delhi are registered under PMJAY. According to the National Health Authority, 107 of these hospitals are private while 44 are government-run. With the fresh empanelment, the total number will reach 265. Health Minister Pankaj Singh stated that the formal launch of the updated list is scheduled for the first week of September.
Singh explained that many leading private hospitals had been reluctant to join earlier because of their experiences under the Delhi Arogya Kosh (DAK) scheme, which was run by the AAP government. The DAK scheme promised financial support but nearly 100 crore rupees in bills remained unpaid. This delay discouraged hospitals from participating in similar initiatives. However, Singh assured that the central government’s PMJAY will resolve these issues and payments will be cleared on time.
Fortis Healthcare, one of the largest private chains in the country, has now shown interest and has already applied to join the panel. Other top hospitals such as Max and Apollo are also expected to be included. This is likely to give patients more choices and improve the quality of healthcare available under the scheme.
The Ayushman Bharat PMJAY provides health insurance coverage of up to 10 lakh rupees per family each year. Out of this, 5 lakh is covered by the Centre and the Delhi government has announced an additional 5 lakh as a top-up. This ensures that families will have better access to costly treatments that were often out of reach earlier.
Since the launch of PMJAY, officials report that 13,337 crore rupees has already been spent on the treatment of cardholders. Of this, 3,756 crore rupees has been paid by the Delhi government. These figures reflect the scale of healthcare needs and the importance of government-backed support for families.
On April 10, 2025, the Delhi government signed a memorandum of understanding with the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The agreement paved the way for the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission in Delhi. With this step, Delhi became the 35th state or union territory to adopt the scheme.
The decision to expand empanelment is expected to help patients from all sections of society. Families who could not afford treatment in private hospitals earlier will now have access without worrying about the financial burden. The presence of both government and private hospitals in the panel ensures that patients have options close to their homes.
The addition of 100 more hospitals is therefore not only an administrative move but also a relief to thousands of families. It shows an effort to bridge the gap between demand for quality healthcare and the facilities available. Once the formal launch takes place in September, beneficiaries will likely experience faster admissions, wider coverage, and improved medical care.
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