New Delhi/Bhubaneswar, Jan 13: Odisha became the 34th State and Union Territory to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) on Monday after the National Health Authority (NHA) of the Union Ministry of Health entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Odisha.

The agreement was signed today at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, between LS Changsan, Addl. Secretary, MoHFW and Chief Executive Officer of NHA and Aswathy S, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Odisha.

The signing ceremony was presided by Jagat Prakash Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare & Chemicals and Fertilizers in the presence of Mohan Charan Majhi, Chief Minister of Odisha; Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education; Jual Oram, Union Minister of Tribal Affairs; Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Railways, Information and Broadcasting & Electronics and Information Technology; Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Deputy Chief Minister of Odisha; and Dr. Mukesh Mahaling, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Parliamentary Affairs & Electronics and Information Technology, Government of Odisha.

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. It will provide a cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per annum with 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.

Addressing the gathering, Nadda remarked, "Today is a historic day for Odisha. AB PM-JAY is not only the world's largest health coverage scheme but also the fastest to be implemented since conception”.

“The scheme is fully digitized and covers approximately 45% of India's population”, he said. The Minister also stated that Hon’ble Prime Minister launched the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card in October 2024 which will benefit approximately 6 crore people aged 70 years and above.

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

He further added, “The significance of this occasion is immense, as it will transform the health status of 86% of Odisha’s population.” Shri Majhi also highlighted that the scheme would further digitalize and drive the progressive development of Odisha's healthcare sector.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, “This MoU is a new beginning in the development story of Odisha’s healthcare sector as it will benefit 4.5 crore families in the state.”

Expressing his heartfelt gratitude to PM Narendra Modi, Pradhan stated that the state health index will show an appreciable rise with the convergence of the two healthcare schemes. The Minister also stressed on expanding digital healthcare services across all districts of the state.

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