PM-JAY in Odisha: Know benefits of Ayushman Bharat yojana; why BJD govt didn't implement it 

In a significant move to boost healthcare services in the state, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has set on a two-day visit to Delhi with the primary aim of signing an agreement (MoU) with the Centre for the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Jan Arogya Yojana in Odisha.

The Ayushman Bharat scheme is set to integrate with the Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana (GJAY) and replace the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) introduced by the previous BJD government.

Speaking to media persons in June 2024, Odisha BJP chief Manmohan Samal had claimed that the people of Odisha and the over 1.5 crore diaspora living outside the state will also benefit from the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).

Benefits of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY Scheme

• Under Ayushman Bharat, beneficiaries receive Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization at public and private empanelled hospitals across India. 
• Women in Odisha will receive an insurance cover of Rs 10 lakh under Ayushman Bharat, as recently stated by Odisha Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling.
• The PM-JAY scheme provides cashless access to healthcare services, covering up to three days of pre-hospitalization expenses and 15 days of post-hospitalization costs, including diagnostics and medications.
• One of the key advantages of Ayushman Bharat is that there are no restrictions on family size, age, or gender, and all pre-existing conditions are covered from day one.
• The scheme covers approximately 1,929 procedures, including medications, supplies, diagnostic services, physician fees, room charges, and surgery costs, across hospitals in India whereas BSKY only covered hospitals in the state.

ALSO READ: Odisha to ink MoU for implementation of Ayushman Bharat in state today

As such, in contrast, BSKY has limited scope in terms of nationwide coverage.

Why BJD Didn't Implement Ayushman Bharat Yojana?

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) did not implement Ayushman Bharat in Odisha, arguing that the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) offers better coverage.

Despite multiple demands from the State BJP, the then Naveen Patnaik-led government reiterated that BSKY is more beneficial, providing higher coverage for women and better support for organ transplants.

BJD leaders also claimed that Ayushman Bharat's budget allocation is insufficient compared to BSKY’s Rs 6,000 crore annual expenditure, ensuring comprehensive healthcare services through significant budgetary allocations and improved infrastructure in government hospitals.

ALSO READ: BSKY beneficiaries unsure about benefits of Ayushman Bharat and Gopabandhu Jan Arogya schemes

On the other hand, the then Odisha Health Secretary, Shalini Pandit had said, “Centre’s Ayushman Bharat provides treatment up to a limit of Rs 5 lakh. However, the major drawback of Ayushman Bharat is that the Centre bills the patient even in government hospitals. The first day a patient visits a government hospital under the Central scheme, the billing starts from that day itself, up to Rs 5 lakh, as opposed to the BSKY under which the State government never bills the charges in government hospitals.”