Does the Swasthya Sathi Card Work at AIIMS Delhi? The Real Rules for Cashless Treatment in 2026

A question that comes up often — “I’m going to AIIMS Delhi for treatment; will the Swasthya Sathi card work there?” The short and honest answer: no, the Swasthya Sathi card does not work for cashless treatment at AIIMS Delhi. But the good news is that with Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) now launched in West Bengal in 2026, the Ayushman card works at AIIMS Delhi and all empanelled major hospitals across the country. Here’s the full picture.

Why Swasthya Sathi doesn’t work at AIIMS Delhi

Swasthya Sathi is a state scheme of the West Bengal government. Its funds come from the state government’s budget, and coverage is largely limited to the state’s empanelled government and private hospitals. AIIMS Delhi (or AIIMS Bhubaneswar, AIIMS Jodhpur, PGI Chandigarh) are central government institutions — they are outside the Swasthya Sathi network.

Ayushman Bharat, by contrast, is a central scheme (PM-JAY) whose network spans the whole country — state hospitals, central institutions and empanelled private hospitals. So the only route to cashless treatment at major hospitals outside the state is the Ayushman card.

Card-by-card comparison: where each works outside the state

Keep one practical rule in mind: AIIMS OPD consultations and nominal-fee tests are almost free for everyone — no card is needed for that. The card discussion concerns cashless costs of admission, surgery and major treatment.

Cashless treatment at AIIMS Delhi with an Ayushman card: step by step

1. Generate the Ayushman card first — complete e-KYC at beneficiary.nha.gov.in or on the Ayushman App and download each member’s Ayushman card. The steps are here: Porting from Swasthya Sathi to Ayushman Bharat.
2. Book an OPD appointment at AIIMS — register online on AIIMS’s official portal/app and visit the required department.
3. If a treatment plan is made, go to the Ayushman desk — if admission is needed, get the card verified at the hospital’s Ayushman desk.
4. Pre-authorisation approval — the hospital will apply on the PM-JAY portal; only after approval are admission and treatment cashless.
5. Carry the documents — Ayushman card (PDF/app), Aadhaar, referral and old reports.

Checklist before going outside the state

• Ayushman cards are individual for each member — the card of the person being treated is the one that’s needed.
• For members over 70, first enrol them under Ayushman Vay Vandana (VVS).
• Show the card at the Ayushman desk before admission at the hospital — applying after admission complicates things.
• Which treatments will be cashless and which parts you’ll pay for yourself — find out in writing before admission.

If there’s a technical problem on the PM-JAY portal, don’t worry — as per the Health Department’s SOP, treatment can be continued under Swasthya Sathi itself in West Bengal by submitting proof (details: Is the Swasthya Sathi Card Being Cancelled in 2026?).

Caution

• Generating and downloading an Ayushman card is completely free — don’t pay an agent.
• Never share your Aadhaar OTP with anyone.
• Ayushman helpline: 14555; Swasthya Sathi helpline: 1800 345 5384.

Related articles: Swasthya Sathi Card Online Check & Status Guide — make sure your card is active before travelling. To learn about cancer treatment under Ayushman Bharat, read the Ayushman cancer treatment guide for Belur/Vellore.