The entire railway healthcare network of hospitals and health units across the country now are covered under the National Health Authority (NHA) which brings it under the ambit of the Centre’s insurance scheme of Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PM JAY).
This follows a memorandum of understanding signed by the Ministry of Railways executive director health (general) Dr. Sridhar Krishnappa with the NHA represented by Dr. Pankaj Kumar Arora earlier this month.
It will enable financial coverage of up to ₹5 lakh in the empanelled public and private hospitals for the beneficiary who need not be from the railway family. Hitherto, except during the peak COVID waves or during emergencies, the railway healthcare institutions were exclusively for the employees and their families, including the retired, who continue to get free treatment.
