Bhubaneswar: In a significant boost to the healthcare sector, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to launch the highly anticipated Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) virtually on Tuesday, October 29.
Speaking to media persons, Odisha’s Health and Family Welfare Minister, Mukesh Mahaling, noted that under this ambitious scheme, all citizens aged 70 and above will receive free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh at any hospital enrolled in the programme.
However, the Ayushman Bharat scheme has not yet been implemented in Odisha.
“As the Ayushman Bharat scheme has not yet been implemented in Odisha, the state government is preparing the necessary modalities to ensure a smooth rollout. Beneficiaries will receive health cards that will cover both the Ayushman Bharat scheme and the existing Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana, with plans to issue these cards by the end of the financial year,” he said.
Minister Mahaling emphasised, “The Health Department is taking all necessary steps to include approximately 3.5 crore people under the scheme, out of Odisha’s total population of 4.5 crore. We are optimistic about a major launch of both Phase I and Phase II of the scheme in the state soon, aiming for implementation by the end of this financial year.”
“The combined health card will allow beneficiaries to access services at 27,000 empaneled hospitals, a significant increase from the previous 950 hospitals,” he noted.
