Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday announced that the Odisha government will establish Ayushman Arogya Mandirs in every panchayat to strengthen healthcare at the grassroots level. This announcement was made during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Health and Family Welfare Department of Odisha and the National Health Authority of the Union Government to implement the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) in the state.
The MoU, signed at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, integrates Odisha’s Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana with Ayushman Bharat, extending healthcare benefits to 1.03 crore families across the state. The scheme will also provide specific medical facilities to the 23.12 lakh senior citizens above the age of 70 residing in Odisha.
Highlighting the gaps in healthcare at the panchayat level, the Chief Minister emphasized that Ayushman Arogya Mandirs will address these issues. These centers will be equipped with health workers, yoga instructors, and modern infrastructure to ensure better access to medical services.
The Chief Minister expressed confidence that this initiative would significantly contribute to the state’s goal of achieving a “Samruddha Odisha” (Prosperous Odisha) by 2036 and align with India’s vision of becoming a Vikshit Bharat (developed nation) by 2047.
The Chief Minister criticized the delay in implementing Ayushman Bharat in Odisha since its national launch in 2018, stating that it deprived the state’s residents of essential healthcare benefits. He announced that linking the scheme with Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana would enable more than one crore families to access cashless treatment in 29,000 hospitals across the country, compared to just 900 hospitals currently.
Under the integrated scheme, male beneficiaries will receive up to ₹5 lakh in annual medical benefits, while female beneficiaries will receive up to ₹10 lakh.
To support this healthcare transformation, the Odisha government has allocated ₹21,000 crore for the health sector in the current budget, reflecting a 32.2% increase from the previous year. This allocation constitutes 8% of the state budget, aligning with the National Health Policy’s recommendations.
Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda praised the initiative, calling it a step forward in achieving universal healthcare access. Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Jual Oram, and Ashwini Vaishnaw also commended Odisha’s efforts during their speeches at the event, alongside Odisha’s Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling.
