The Delhi High Court has called for the urgent implementation of the PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) in Delhi, noting its absence while 33 states have adopted it. The court mandated the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by January 5, 2025, to ensure that residents receive necessary healthcare benefits.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has emphasized the need for the implementation of the PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) scheme in Delhi. The court observed that the lack of implementation of this scheme in the national capital, while 33 other states and union territories have already adopted it, is “not justified.”
The case was taken up suo motu by the division bench comprising Justice Prathiba M Singh and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora. The court stated,
“The clear position that emerges from the above minutes is that the PMABHIM scheme would have to be implemented in its entirety in order to ensure that the residents of Delhi are not deprived of the funds and all the facilities under the said scheme.”
It further clarified,
“Clearly, the funds of one Scheme cannot be sought to be released for some other projects, as is being sought to be asserted. The non-implementation of the PM-ABHIM Scheme in Delhi, when 33 States and UTs have already implemented the same, would not be justified.”
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Highlighting the necessity of formalizing the agreement, the court ordered that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) should be signed by January 5, 2025. The court directed,
“Let the said MoU be signed by 5th January, 2025.”
The Delhi Government was represented by Senior Advocate Rahul Mehra along with ASC GNCTD Udit Malik. A report submitted by the Director of AIIMS revealed that the PM-ABHIM scheme is currently being implemented in Delhi only as a pilot project for diagnostic labs at Indira Gandhi Hospital.
The report also mentioned ongoing discussions between the Delhi State Health Mission and the Mission Director of the National Health Mission regarding the scheme’s broader implementation in the state.
Taking note of the situation, the court directed that the MoU be finalized and presented before the court by the next hearing. The directive reflects the court’s commitment to ensuring that the residents of Delhi receive the benefits and facilities under the scheme.
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