Assam Health & Family Welfare Schemes
Atal Amrit Abhiyan Scheme (Assam Government)
Launching Date/Time of Atal Amrit Abhiyan Scheme
- Launched on: 25th December 2016.
Objective of Atal Amrit Abhiyan Scheme
- To provide cashless health insurance and critical care coverage to Below Poverty Line (BPL) and low-income Above Poverty Line (APL) families in Assam.
- To reduce the financial burden of catastrophic health expenses and improve access to quality healthcare for vulnerable households.
Features of Scheme
- Coverage Amount: Up to ₹2 lakh per individual per year for inpatient treatment.
- Diseases Covered: 437 medical procedures grouped under six major disease categories:
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Cancer
- Kidney diseases
- Neo-natal diseases
- Neurological conditions
- Burns
- Cashless Treatment: Available at empanelled government and private hospitals within Assam and select hospitals outside the state (e.g., in Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru).
- Enrollment Fee:
- BPL families: Free
- APL families (annual income ₹1.2–5 lakh): ₹100 per member per year.
- Identification: Each beneficiary receives a laminated ID card with a unique identification number for availing benefits.
- Expenses Covered: Includes hospitalization, medicines, consultations, diagnostics, food, and some travel expenses.
- Exclusions: Government employees (serving or retired) are not eligible.
Beneficiaries of the Scheme
- Eligible:
- All BPL families in Assam with annual income below ₹1.2 lakh.
- APL families with annual income between ₹1.2 lakh and ₹5 lakh.
- Residents of Assam with required documentation (EPIC, birth certificate for minors, income certificate, ration card, etc.).
- Not Eligible:
- Central and state government employees (serving or retired)
Ayushman Card Scheme (Assam)
Launching Date/Time of Ayushman Card Scheme
The Ayushman Assam Scheme was launched on May 10, 2023 by the Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, in Guwahati, marking the second anniversary of his government.
Objective of Ayushman Card Scheme
Primary Goal: To provide cashless health insurance coverage to economically vulnerable families in Assam who are not covered under the central Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).
Universal Health Coverage: Expand access to quality healthcare and reduce the financial burden of medical expenses for poor and lower middle-class households in Assam.
Features of Ayushman Card Scheme
Coverage Amount: Up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for hospitalization and treatment expenses.
Cashless Treatment: Beneficiaries receive cashless treatment at more than 300 empanelled hospitals in Assam and all AB-PMJAY empanelled hospitals across India.
Wide Medical Coverage: Includes 1,949 medical procedures across 27 specialties, covering a broad range of treatments and surgeries.
Family Floater: The insurance is on a family floater basis, meaning any or all members of the family can use the total sum insured.
No Cap on Family Size or Age: All eligible members of a family are covered, regardless of family size or age.
e-KYC Campaign: Government workers (e.g., ASHA, MPWs) conduct house-to-house and camp-based e-KYC to enroll beneficiaries.
Portability: Scheme benefits are portable across India at any empanelled hospital.
Comprehensive Inclusion: Covers pre-existing diseases from day one.
Beneficiaries of Ayushman Card Scheme
Eligibility:
Families listed under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) who are not already covered by AB-PMJAY.
Households with ration cards in Assam.
Scale:
Approximately 26–27 lakh families (about 1.1 crore individuals) in Assam are covered under this scheme.
Assam has delivered over one crore Ayushman cards, becoming the first state in India to reach this milestone.
Special Focus:
Economically weaker sections, especially those left out of the central PMJAY scheme but included in state welfare databases
Assam Arogya Nidhi Scheme
Launching Date/Time of Assam Arogya Nidhi Scheme
Assam Arogya Nidhi Scheme was launched by the Government of Assam in 2013.
Objective of Assam Arogya Nidhi Scheme
The main objective is to provide financial assistance to economically disadvantaged people in Assam who are facing financial hardship due to the treatment costs of exceptional, rare, or life-threatening diseases and injuries caused by natural or man-made disasters.
The scheme aims to bridge gaps in healthcare financing for serious illnesses that are not fully covered under other government health schemes.
Features of Assam Arogya Nidhi Scheme
Financial Assistance: Up to ₹3,00,000 per eligible case, provided as reimbursement or direct payment to hospitals.
Coverage: Includes treatment for:
Life-threatening diseases: heart disease/surgery, cancer, kidney/urinary diseases, orthopedic conditions, thalassemia, bone marrow transplant, AIDS, chronic mental illness requiring surgery.
Injuries from natural/man-made disasters: industrial, farm, road, rail accidents, bomb blasts, etc..
Eligibility & Selection:
For BPL families and those with annual family income less than ₹5 lakh.
No age limit for beneficiaries.
Not eligible if a government employee or pensioner is in the family.
Selection by a government-notified committee; Chief Minister and Committee Chairperson have sanctioning powers up to prescribed limits.
Disbursement: Assistance is transferred directly to the beneficiary’s or hospital’s bank account.
Application: Offline application with required documents (income certificate, medical bills, identity proof, etc.).
Funding: The Government of India contributes 50% of the funds sanctioned by the State Government.
Exclusions: Applicants must first exhaust benefits under PMJAY or Atal Amrit Abhiyan if eligible; AAN is for cases not covered or not fully covered by those schemes.
Beneficiaries of Assam Arogya Nidhi Scheme
Target Group: Assam residents who are:
Below Poverty Line (BPL) or with annual income less than ₹5 lakh.
Suffering from serious, life-threatening diseases or injuries as specified.
Exclusions: Families with a government employee or pensioner are not eligible.
Selection: Final beneficiaries are chosen after scrutiny by a designated committee based on submitted documentation and verification
Assam Sushrusha (Kidney Transplant) Scheme
Launching Date/Time of Sushrusha (Kidney Transplant) Scheme
The Sushrusha (Kidney Transplant) Scheme was launched by the Assam government on 23rd August 2010.
Objective of Sushrusha (Kidney Transplant) Scheme
The primary objective is to provide financial assistance to residents of Assam who have undergone kidney transplantation, helping them cover the costs of surgery and aftercare.
Features of Sushrusha (Kidney Transplant) Scheme
Financial Assistance: One-time grant of ₹1 lakh to eligible beneficiaries.
Eligibility Criteria:
Must be a permanent resident of Assam.
Annual household income must not exceed ₹3 lakh.
Kidney transplantation must have occurred after 1st April 2010.
Government servants, public sector employees and anyone entitled to medical reimbursement are not eligible for this scheme.
Certification: Beneficiaries must be certified by the Nodal Officer that they have undergone a kidney transplant.
Applicable Hospitals: Transplants must be conducted in government hospitals or, if not feasible, empanelled private hospitals.
Coverage: The scheme covers the cost of the transplant procedure and aftercare, but does not cover donor organ retrieval surgery.
Nodal Officer: Dr. Anup Kr. Barman, Director of Medical Education, Assam, is the designated nodal officer.
Disbursement: The financial assistance is provided as a one-time payment.
Beneficiaries of Sushrusha (Kidney Transplant) Scheme
Residents of Assam who have undergone kidney transplantation after 1st April 2010.
Annual family income should be less than ₹3 lakh.
Exclusions: Government employees, public sector employees, and those entitled to any form of medical reimbursement are not eligible.
Both BPL (Below Poverty Line) and non-BPL families can benefit if they meet the income and other eligibility criteria
Assam Operation Smile
Launching date/time of Operation Smile
Operation Smile was launched in January 2009 in partnership with the Government of Assam. The formal agreement was signed in May 2009.
Objective of Operation Smile
The main objective is to make Assam a “cleft free” state by providing free surgeries to children and individuals with cleft lip and cleft palate deformities.
The scheme aims to address the backlog of untreated cleft cases and ensure every new case receives timely, quality surgical care.
Features of Operation Smile
- Free corrective surgeries for cleft lip and cleft palate patients.
Implemented through a Public-Private Partnership between the Government of Assam and Operation Smile.
Comprehensive Cleft and Child Care Centre established at Mohendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital, Guwahati, with the capacity for multiple simultaneous surgeries and year-round care.
Combination of outreach camps (“Missions”) and permanent centre-based care to maximize reach and efficiency.
The centre matches global standards for cleft care and can operate six tables at once.
By July 2014, over 11,860 children had received free surgeries under the scheme.
Beneficiaries of Operation Smile
Children and individuals of all ages in Assam with untreated cleft lips or cleft palates.
Eligibility: Any person in Assam with a cleft lip or cleft palate is eligible for free treatment under the scheme
Sanjeevani (Mobile Health Units)
Launching date/time of Sanjeevani (Mobile Health Units)
Launched in 2011 by the Government of Assam under the National Rural Health Mission.
Objective of Sanjeevani (Mobile Health Units)
Main objective: Deliver essential healthcare services to rural and remote populations in Assam through mobile health units, ensuring access to screening, diagnosis, treatment, and referral for both communicable and non-communicable diseases.
Focus areas: Early detection and management of chronic and lifestyle diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, epilepsy, and asthma, while minimizing disruption to daily livelihood activities.
Features of Sanjeevani (Mobile Health Units)
Mobile Health Units (MHUs): 80 MHUs operate across the state, each staffed by a Registration & Measurement Officer, ANM, laboratory technician, pharmacist, paramedic, and driver.
Equipment: Each unit is equipped with laptops (with VHOP software), biometric scanners, diagnostic tools (HB meters, glucometers, BP monitors), and essential medicines.
Service coverage: Each MHU follows a pre-defined route, covering 2 villages (about 3,000 people) daily, reaching 48 villages in a 24-day monthly cycle.
Scope: Initially targeted 3,800 service points and approximately 56 lakh people.
Services provided: Screening, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up, and referral for high-risk cases; free medicines; laboratory investigations; and 24-hour ambulance support via 108/104 helplines.
Integration: Supplements existing public health infrastructure and coordinates with government and NGO healthcare providers.
Performance: Over 52 lakh services delivered, with more than 1.2 lakh diabetics and 95,000 hypertension patients managed since inception.
Beneficiaries of Sanjeevani (Mobile Health Units)
Primary beneficiaries: Rural populations of Assam, especially those in remote or underserved areas with poor access to healthcare facilities.
Inclusivity: All age groups and any patient in need of healthcare services, particularly those unable to afford transportation or medical costs.
Special focus: Individuals with chronic diseases, women (ANC/PNC care), children, and those requiring emergency ambulance services