MP Bishnu Pada Ray Urges Local Tie-Ups With Private Hospitals Under Ayushman Bharat to Curb Mainland Referrals

Tarun Karthick

Sri Vijaya Puram, 24 October 2025

Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has urged the Administration to initiate local tie-ups between private hospitals in the Islands and the Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) network to ensure cashless treatment for patients locally and to curb unnecessary referrals to mainland hospitals.

In a letter addressed to the Hon’ble Lt. Governor, the MP highlighted that the existing limitations in advanced medical facilities at G.B. Pant Hospital have resulted in frequent referrals to empanelled mainland hospitals for procedures such as ophthalmic, cardiac, orthopedic, gynecological, urological, and neurological treatments.

While AB-PMJAY covers treatment expenses at empanell