Odisha Integrates with Ayushman Bharat

On January 13, 2025, Odisha became the 34th state to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), marking a significant advancement in the state’s healthcare landscape. This integration was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Health Authority (NHA) of the Union Ministry of Health and Odisha’s Department of Health and Family Welfare.

Convergence with Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana

The AB PM-JAY will operate in conjunction with Odisha’s existing Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana (GJAY). This unified scheme offers a health coverage of ₹5 lakh per family annually, with an additional ₹5 lakh specifically for women members. Approximately 1.03 crore families are expected to benefit, with 67.8 lakh families receiving support from the Union Government.

Enhanced Healthcare Access

Previously, residents of Odisha had access to around 900 empaneled hospitals. With this integration, they can now avail cashless treatment in over 29,000 government and private empaneled hospitals nationwide. This expansion is anticipated to transform the health status of 86% of Odisha’s population, providing broader access to quality healthcare services.

National Impact of AB PM-JAY

Since its inception, AB PM-JAY has recorded 8.19 crore hospital admissions across India, with ₹1.13 lakh crore allocated towards healthcare for marginalized communities. The scheme covers nearly 2,000 medical procedures across 27 specialties, including major surgeries like bypass surgeries and knee replacements. Notably, even in remote and underserved areas, there has been a significant increase in hospital admissions, reflecting improved accessibility to affordable healthcare.

Leadership Remarks

Union Health Minister JP Nadda hailed the day as historic for Odisha, emphasizing that AB PM-JAY is the world’s largest and fastest-implemented health coverage scheme, now fully digitized and encompassing approximately 45% of India’s population. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi highlighted the transformative potential of the scheme, noting its capacity to enhance the health status of a substantial portion of the state’s residents.

Ayushman Bharat – Key Points

Launched: 2018

Full Name: Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)

Objective: Provide health coverage for economically vulnerable families.

Coverage: ₹5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary care.

Beneficiaries: 10.74 crore families (approximately 50 crore people).

Treatment: Cashless and paperless treatment in 29,000+ hospitals.

Target: Financial inclusion and health access for marginalized communities.

Key Features

• Covers 2,000+ medical procedures.
• Covers surgeries, diagnostics, and hospitalizations.
• Integration with state health schemes (e.g., Odisha’s Gopabandhu Yojana).
• Fully digital platform for beneficiary identification and service delivery.

Summary of the news