Nadda laments Bengal’s rejection of Ayushman scheme
Times of India | 9 January 2026
Kolkata: Union health minister and BJP national president J P Nadda, who met doctors in Kolkata on Thursday, lamented that the state had rejected the Centre's Ayushman Bharat scheme. "I don't want to play politics. But I am sorry to say that people of Bengal are being deprived of the Ayushman facilities. As a health minister, I issued Ayushman cards, which were torn and thrown into the drain," he said. He also claimed that the Centre had spent Rs 1.4 lakh crore towards the scheme to support poor families.
Claiming that he repeatedly requested chief minister Mamata Banerjee to allow the scheme to be rolled out in Bengal, Nadda said, "I told Mamataji that the poor will benefit. If a citizen from Bengal is working in Himachal Pradesh, they can use the card. But I could not convince Mamata Didi."
Nadda said: "We brought a new policy in 2017 after numerous discussions across the country. This health policy was different, as it was inclusive and comprehensive, covering curative, preventive, palliative and geriatric aspects."
Pointing out that 1.8 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have been established across the country, Nadda said that each unit is accessible to 3,000-4,000 people. "We ensured that each facility is certified by NQAS (National Quality Assurance Standards). So far, we have spent Rs 1.4 lakh crore for poor families for their treatment," he said.
Nadda touched upon how the Odisha and New Delhi govts had earlier opposed the Ayushman Bharat scheme. "However, there is one ray of hope. In both Odisha and New Delhi, the BJP came to power and implemented Ayushman Bharat. I am sure the BJP will be voted to office, and Ayushman Bharat will be offered in Bengal."