Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept 01: The Andaman and Nicobar Administration has revised the Transport and Wage Loss Compensation Guidelines under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), expanding financial support for eligible beneficiaries referred from the islands to empanelled hospitals in mainland India for specialised medical treatment. The revised provisions came into effect on August 1, 2026.
The revised guidelines were approved by the Governing Body of the State Health Society, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. According to the Administration, the changes are intended to facilitate treatment referrals from the islands by easing travel and income-related burdens on beneficiaries.
Under the revised provisions, patients referred from GB Pant Hospital, Sri Vijaya Puram, to empanelled hospitals in mainland India under AB-PMJAY will be permitted to travel by air in Economy Class, subject to the prescribed conditions. Reimbursement for air travel will be available up to a ceiling of Rs.40,000 for the onward and return journey covering both the patient and one attendant.
The Administration has also introduced a cashless air travel arrangement for patients who require transportation as stretcher cases. Under the revised guidelines, the State Health Agency (SHA) will arrange air tickets for the patient and one attendant on a cashless basis, subject to the applicable provisions.
To operationalise the facility, the SHA has taken up the matter with Balmer Lawrie & Co. Ltd. for arranging air tickets for stretcher cases. The Health Department has proposed maintaining an advance deposit of Rs.10 lakh with the agency for this purpose, while confirmation from the company is awaited.
The revised policy also broadens the scope of wage loss compensation. The benefit has now been extended to all eligible AB-PMJAY beneficiaries, replacing the earlier provision under which only beneficiaries covered under the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) category were eligible.
Eligible beneficiaries will receive wage loss compensation at the rate of Rs.1,000 per day for a maximum period of 20 days, subject to the terms and conditions laid down in the revised guidelines.
The Administration has stated that the complete revised Transport and Wage Loss Compensation Guidelines are available on the official website of the Directorate of Health Services, Andaman and Nicobar Administration.
