Centre extends Ayushman Bharat health scheme to cover trans people

Trans people will now get composite healthcare services under the Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday said the move will ensure "rightful and respectable" place for trans people. An MoU that will facilitate this will extend all healthcare benefits to transgender persons (holding a transgender certificate issued by the National Portal for transgender persons) across the country, Mandaviya said. "We have the registry. This is to give the members of the community the respect they deserve," he added.

A comprehensive package is being prepared for the transgender category including the existing AB PM-JAY packages and specific packages like Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS) and treatment for transgenders, he said, adding the individual members will be treated as "family" to avail the the Rs 5 lakh cover under the scheme.


In another move, the ministry has also decided to issue unified Ayushman cards that will bear the logos or both centre and State. The minister said this will help the States and also the beneficiaries. Few States such as Tamil Nadu and Telangana are yet to come on board with this idea, ministry officials said.