Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug. 31: The Andaman & Nicobar Administration has revised the Transport and Wage Loss Compensation Guidelines under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), following approval from the Governing Body of the State Health Society, A&N Islands. The revised provisions have come into effect from August 1, 2026.
The revised guidelines aim to facilitate beneficiaries referred from the Islands to empanelled hospitals in mainland India for specialised medical treatment. Under the new provisions, all patients referred from GB Pant Hospital, Sri Vijaya Puram, under AB-PMJAY for treatment at empanelled hospitals in mainland India will be permitted to travel by air in Economy Class, subject to the applicable provisions of the revised guidelines. Reimbursement for air travel will be admissible up to a maximum ceiling of Rs. 40,000 for the onward and return journey for the patient and one attendant.
The guidelines also provide for a cashless air travel arrangement for patients referred as stretcher cases. In such cases, the State Health Agency (SHA) will arrange air tickets for the patient and one attendant on a cashless basis, subject to the applicable guidelines. The SHA has taken up the matter with Balmer Lawrie & Co. Ltd. for facilitating air tickets for stretcher cases. The Department proposes to maintain an advance deposit of Rs. 10 lakh with the agency for this purpose, with confirmation from the agency awaited.
Another major change is the extension of wage loss compensation to all eligible AB-PMJAY beneficiaries. Eligible beneficiaries will now be entitled to wage loss compensation at the rate of Rs. 1,000 per day for a maximum period of 20 days, subject to the terms and conditions prescribed under the revised guidelines. Earlier, this benefit was restricted to beneficiaries covered under the SECC category.
The complete revised Transport and Wage Loss Compensation Guidelines are available on the official website of the Directorate of Health Services, A&N Administration.
