Sri Vijaya Puram, April 30: Thousands of eligible beneficiaries in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are yet to access free healthcare benefits under the Ayushman Bharat scheme due to delays in generating mandatory health cards, prompting the administration to issue an urgent appeal.
The Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), which offers cashless health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary care, has been in force in the Union Territory since September 23, 2018. However, officials said a significant number of eligible families have not completed the card generation process required to avail the benefits.
Data from the National Health Authority indicates that 23,785 families, covering 89,061 beneficiaries in the islands, have been identified as eligible under the scheme. Despite this, many Priority Household (PHH) and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) ration card holders have yet to create their individual Ayushman Bharat cards.
Officials stressed that without these cards, beneficiaries cannot access cashless treatment at empanelled government and private hospitals across the country. The administration has urged all eligible individuals to complete the process at the earliest to ensure they are not deprived of healthcare services when needed.
To facilitate access, the administration has outlined multiple channels for card generation. Beneficiaries can use the Ayushman App available on the Google Play Store or visit their nearest Common Service Centres (CSCs). Assistance is also available through frontline healthcare workers, including ASHAs, ANMs, and Community Health Officers (CHOs) at nearby health facilities.
Authorities said the scheme is designed to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses and improve access to quality healthcare, particularly for economically vulnerable groups. The delay in card generation, however, remains a barrier to full utilisation of the programme in the islands.
The administration reiterated that timely registration is critical for ensuring coverage, especially in emergency or hospitalisation scenarios. Efforts are ongoing to increase awareness and facilitate enrolment through local outreach and support systems.
Beneficiaries have been advised to contact the State Health Agency, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, for assistance or queries related to the scheme during office hours.
The appeal comes as part of a broader effort to ensure that all entitled residents are brought under the ambit of the national health protection scheme without delay.
