HT Digital
Guwahati, Oct 30: The Assam government has introduced a cashless medical treatment system for state employees, pensioners, and their dependents under its ‘Ayushman Asom Mukhya Mantri Lok Sevak Arogya Yojana’ (AA-MMLSAY). The new facility, launched by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, allows beneficiaries to access healthcare at empanelled hospitals across Assam and select corporate hospitals in other parts of India without upfront payment.
The move marks a shift from the existing reimbursement-based structure that has been in place since 2023. Sarma said the cashless option would ease the financial burden on families seeking treatment, while the reimbursement system would continue during the transition. So far, over 2.23 lakh employees and 6,000 pensioners have enrolled under the scheme, with reimbursements totalling Rs 65 crore—an increase from the earlier annual average of Rs 17–18 crore.
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Unlike the Centre’s Ayushman Bharat programme, AA-MMLSAY is fully funded by employee contributions, making it self-sustaining. The Chief Minister said the state expects to extend coverage to nearly 8 lakh beneficiaries in the coming years. The government is also focusing on expanding the hospital network to ensure equitable access for employees across districts.
Sarma further announced plans to set up Assam’s own Pay Commission soon, aiming to align state employees’ service benefits with those of central government staff. The two initiatives, he said, reflect the state’s broader approach to improving employee welfare and financial security.
