In response to Unstarred Question No. 1277 by Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, the Minister of Health and Family Welfare addresses concerns raised by the Member of Parliament, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, regarding the review and amendment of patient referral guidelines under Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). The query specifically asks if the government will consider air travel instead of ship for patients and attendants and other measures to safeguard patient welfare.
The Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Shri Prataprao Jadhav) stated that in the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, there are 7 public empanelled hospitals under AB-PMJAY. To facilitate free treatment, the scheme offers portability, allowing eligible beneficiaries to avail treatment in any empanelled hospital nationwide, irrespective of their State/UT. Additionally, States/UTs have the flexibility to customize package rates and relax empanelment criteria for hospitals based on the local context.
Key Entities Referenced
Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY): A national health insurance scheme providing financial protection to vulnerable families.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The primary ministry responsible for health policies in India.
Andaman & Nicobar Islands: The Union Territory specifically addressed in the question regarding patient referral.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH ANDFAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 1277
TOBE ANSWERED ON 06TH FEBRUARY,2026
REVIEWOFGUIDELINES FORREFERRALOFPATIENTS
1277. SHRIBISHNU PADARAY:
Will the Minister of HEALTHAND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleased tostate:
(a) whether it is a fact that the Member of Parliament, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, has
requested the Government (Prime Minister, Home Minister and Health Minister) to review
and amend the existing guidelines for referral of patients to mainland-empanelled hospitals
under the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan ArogyaYojana (AB-PMJAY), suggesting
that patients and their attendants be referred by air travel instead of ship for both onward and
returnjourneys, alongwith othermeasures tosafeguard patients’ welfare; and
(b) if so, the steps taken by the Government to consider these suggestions and the timeframe
proposed for implementingthe proposed measures?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATEIN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTHAND
FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAOJADHAV)
(a) and (b): In the Union Territory (UT) of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, there are 7 public
empanelled hospitals under Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-
PMJAY). In order to facilitate free treatment to beneficiaries under AB-PMJAY, the scheme
offersportability feature,wherein eligiblebeneficiaries canavailtreatmentinanyempanelled
hospital across the country, irrespective of the State/UT to which the beneficiary belongs.
Under the scheme, States/UTs have the flexibility to customize the package rates and relax
the empanelment criteria for hospitals asperthe localcontext.
*****