Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has announced plans to roll out two major healthcare initiatives—Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri – Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and the state-funded Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana (GJAY)—in February 2025. Health & Family Welfare Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling revealed these developments on Monday, highlighting the government’s commitment to expanding healthcare access across the state.
Dr. Mahaling stated that approximately 3.5 crore people in Odisha will receive individual health cards under these schemes, ensuring no citizen is left without health insurance coverage. He added that a Central team has completed the necessary groundwork for implementing the Ayushman Bharat initiative in the state.
The government also plans to increase the number of medical and nursing colleges in Odisha in the coming year, further strengthening the state’s healthcare infrastructure. To formalize the partnership, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed for implementing the Ayushman Bharat scheme alongside GJAY.
Under these schemes, beneficiaries will have access to free medical treatment at over 27,000 empanelled hospitals across the country. Ayushman Bharat will provide coverage of up to Rs5 lakh per family annually. Meanwhile, GJAY, which has replaced the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana, offers coverage of up to Rs5 lakh in rural areas and Rs6 lakh in urban areas, catering to economically disadvantaged families.
These initiatives reflect the government’s dedication to improving healthcare accessibility and affordability for Odisha’s residents.
