Great news for Odisha! On April 11, Union Health Minister J P Nadda will officially launch the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) in the state. The launch event will take place in Cuttack, in the presence of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, state Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling, and Union Ministers from Odisha.
Along with this, two more health schemes will be launched:
- Ayushman Vayo-Vandana Yojana (for senior citizens aged 70+)
- Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana (GJAY) – Odisha’s new state health insurance scheme
What Will Change?
With these new schemes, healthcare access in Odisha is set to expand greatly. Here’s what to expect:
✅ Free Cashless Treatment
- 3.5 crore people from 1.3 crore families in Odisha will benefit
- Coverage is available in 29,000 hospitals across India (up from just 900 earlier)
- Government and private hospitals included
✅ Unified Health Card
- One card per individual, not per family
- Cardholders can access the benefits of both AB-PMJAY and GJAY
✅ Ayushman Vayo-Vandana Yojana
- For all people aged 70 and above, regardless of income
- Will receive cashless treatment benefits under the central scheme
✅ Increased Health Coverage
- ₹5 lakh per family under Ayushman Bharat
- Extra ₹5 lakh for women
- If a family has a member aged 70+, coverage increases to ₹15 lakh
A Health Revolution for Odisha
This is the first time Odisha is implementing the Ayushman Bharat scheme, which was previously blocked by the state’s former BJD government. The newly elected BJP government is now rolling out these programs to strengthen healthcare delivery and support the poor and vulnerable.
The launch will be witnessed by 1,405 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) via video conferencing, ensuring statewide participation.
The state has also approved a ₹27,019 crore budget to run Ayushman Bharat and GJAY for the next five years.
Why This Matters for Doctors
These schemes are expected to increase patient footfall, especially from rural and underserved communities. With more people eligible for cashless treatment, doctors across private and government hospitals will play a key role in delivering care under these programs.
It also means:
- Better infrastructure in hospitals
- Faster claim processing through the National Health Authority (NHA)
- Access to a larger patient database through ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account)
Let’s work together to make quality healthcare accessible to every family in Odisha!
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