As of 30.11.023, a total of 761 hospital admissions amounting to Rs. 1.12 Crores have been authorized under Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (PM-JAY) for transgender beneficiaries, for which such information is available. Additionally, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between National Health Authority (NHA) and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) to extend the benefits of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) to all transgender community. As per this MoU, the transgender community are provided healthcare benefits under the SMILE (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) framework launched by MoSJE. Any member of transgender community registered on National Portal for Transgender Persons is eligible for free health care facilities at any of the AB PM-JAY empaneled hospitals.

The Government is implementing the National AIDS Control Programme across the country, currently in its fifth phase. Transgender community is considered among High-Risk Group (HRG) for acquisition of HIV infection and services for HIV prevention, treatment of sexually transmitted infections. HIV testing and care are provided to them predominantly through targeted intervention projects and Link Worker Scheme is implemented through State AIDS Control Societies with the objective of reduction of new HIV infections.

Additionally, all transgender persons affected by HIV/AIDS are provided free-of-cost Anti-retroviral Therapy (ART) at the ART Centers and additional support services through Care and Support Centers in a stigma free and inclusive manner as per standards of care. The Government is implementing the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) across the country supported through the National Health Mission implemented at primary, secondary and tertiary levels.  Mental health services are part of the package of services under Comprehensive Primary Health Care under Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWC) Scheme. AB PM-JAY provides treatment corresponding to a total of 1949 procedures under 27 different specialties, of which, 19 procedures are related to “mental disorders” specialty. “National Tele Mental Health Programme” (NTMHP) has been launched to improve access to quality mental health counselling and care services in the country. Eligible individuals including transgender community are entitled to free health care services under the schemes.

AB PM-JAY is the largest publicly funded health assurance scheme in the world which provides health cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to 12 Crore poor families. Beneficiary families were predominantly identified on the basis of select deprivation and occupational criteria in rural and urban areas respectively from SECC database of 2011. States which have not been able to identify eligible beneficiaries as per SECC database, have been provided flexibility to use non-SECC database to identify leftover (unverified) SECC beneficiaries. Further, it may kindly be noted that any individual including transgenders eligible as per the criteria defined under SECC 2011 (ref. Annexure – I) or those prescribed by State / UTs for non-SECC beneficiaries is entitled to free healthcare services under the scheme.

The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prof. S.P. Singh Bhagel stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

****

Annexure-I

Detailed list of criteria for eligibility under AB PM-JAY as per SECC 2011

Automatically included:

1. Households without shelter

2. Destitute/ living on alms

3. Manual scavenger families

4. Primitive tribal groups

5. Legally released bonded labour

Deprivation criteria in rural area:

D1: Only one room with kucha walls and kucha roof

D2: No adult member between age 16 to 59

D3: Female headed households with no adult male member between age 16 to 59

D4: Disabled member and no able-bodied adult member

D5: SC/ST households

D7: Landless households deriving major part of their income from manual casual labour

Occupational criteria in urban area:

1. Ragpicker
2. Beggar
3. Domestic worker
4. Street vendor/ Cobbler/ hawker / other service provider working on streets
5. Construction worker/ Plumber/ Mason/ Labour/ Painter/ Welder/ Security guard/ Coolie and other head-load worker
6. Sweeper/ Sanitation worker/ Mali
7. Home-based worker/ Artisan/ Handicrafts worker/ Tailor
8. Transport worker/ Driver/ Conductor/ Helper to drivers and conductors/ Cart puller/ Rickshaw puller
9. Shop worker/ Assistant/ Peon in small establishment/ Helper/Delivery assistant / Attendant/ Waiter
10. Electrician/ Mechanic/ Assembler/ Repair worker
11. Washer-man/ Chowkidar

****

MV

HFW/ PQ /Update on Access to Healthcare Services for Transgender Community/5December2023/1