Odisha implements Ayushman Bharat scheme; 2,000 medical procedures covered, says JP Nadda

The Odisha government’s Health and Family Welfare Department on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Health Authority (NHA) of the Union Ministry of Health for the implementation of the much-awaited Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).

The MoU was signed today at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi and the ceremony was presided by Jagat Prakash Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare in the presence of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.

As per official sources, the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) will be implemented in convergence with the existing Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana (GJAY) in Odisha. 
Benefits

It will provide a cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per annum with an additional Rs 5 lakh for women members. A total of approximately 1.03 crore families will come under the converged scheme with 67.8 lakh families supported by the Union Government.

“Since the inception of the scheme, 8.19 crore hospital admissions have been recorded, with Rs 1.13 lakh crore spent on providing healthcare to marginalized sections of society. AB PM-JAY has increased access to healthcare for cancer patients by 33%. He also highlighted the scheme’s role in improving early cancer diagnoses and promoting health-seeking behaviour, particularly among women,” said Nadda.

The Union Minister further said that nearly 2,000 medical procedures across 27 specialities are covered under AB PM-JAY, including major surgeries like bypass surgeries and knee replacements.

Odisha CM Mohan Majhi said that people of the state, who were previously receiving treatment in around 900 empanelled hospitals, will now have access to cashless and quality treatment in over 29,000 government and private empanelled hospitals. He stated that the converged schemes will cumulatively benefit around 4.5 crore people of Odisha with the help of a single card.