Sri Vijaya Puram | January 28, 2026
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been awarded the Best Union Territory/State in the category ‘Treatment of Beneficiaries – Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)’ during the Chintan Shivir held from January 19 to 20, 2026, at Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
The award was conferred at the two-day Chintan Shivir organised by the National Health Authority (NHA) and was presented by Ms. Anu Garg, Chief Secretary, Odisha, in recognition of the Union Territory’s outstanding performance and effective implementation of the AB-PMJAY scheme.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands were especially recognised for their focused initiatives aimed at reducing the financial burden on beneficiaries, notably through the provision of transport assistance and wage-loss compensation. These measures have significantly lowered out-of-pocket expenditure, particularly for patients referred to empanelled mainland hospitals under portability cases.
To address the hardships faced by beneficiaries seeking treatment outside the Islands, the UT Administration, through the State Health Agency (SHA), has implemented a structured Transport and Wage Loss Compensation mechanism under AB-PMJAY. Under this initiative, eligible beneficiaries receive transport assistance of up to ₹40,000 per referral and wage-loss compensation at ₹1,000 per day for up to 20 days, as per prescribed guidelines. The expenditure is met from funds earmarked by the UT Administration.
The Transport and Wage Loss Compensation scheme has been operational since 2020. Since its inception, 1,659 claims have been received and settled, with the UT Administration incurring an expenditure of ₹2.78 crore. The sustained financial support has played a crucial role in reducing out-of-pocket expenses and ensuring timely access to quality healthcare for beneficiaries referred to empanelled mainland hospitals.
