New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the central government to implement the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) by merging it with the state’s Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana.
The agreement was formalized in the presence of Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, Deputy Chief Minister K.V. Singh Deo, and Odisha Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling. Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Jual Oram were also present.
With this move, Odisha becomes the 34th state/UT to implement AB-PMJAY, providing comprehensive healthcare coverage to economically disadvantaged families.
Under the integrated scheme, eligible beneficiaries will receive a single bilingual health card, offering coverage of Rs5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary care. An additional Rs5 lakh coverage is provided specifically for women. This initiative will benefit over 1.03 crore families in Odisha, with 67.8 lakh families funded by the central government.
The scheme includes cashless treatment access at more than 30,000 hospitals across India, aiming to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare expenses and strengthen Odisha’s healthcare infrastructure.
Odisha Health Secretary Aswathy S. and CEO of the National Health Authority (NHA), L.S. Changsan, highlighted the use of NHA’s IT platform for seamless operation. Health cards for beneficiaries will soon be printed and distributed.
“This integration is a milestone for Odisha’s healthcare, setting an example for other states in achieving comprehensive healthcare coverage,” an official release stated.
The initiative marks a shift from the earlier stance of the state, where the BJD-led government opted for its standalone Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana. The new administration under Chief Minister Majhi renamed it as Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana and integrated it with Ayushman Bharat.
Key features of PM-JAY include Rs5 lakh coverage per family, cashless healthcare services, coverage for pre-existing conditions, and treatment portability across India.
