Bhubaneswar: The Ayushman Bharat Yojana and Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana are set to be officially launched in Odisha on April 11 at a state-level ceremony at Cuttack Bali Yatra Ground.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will launch the scheme in the presence of prominent dignitaries, including Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Jual Oram, and Aswini Vaishnaw, as well as Deputy Chief Ministers KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida, informed Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling at a press conference.
Mahaling said that approximately 1.3 crore families, comprising 3.50 crore individuals, will benefit from the scheme. A significant improvement over the previous health card, which was limited to 900 hospitals within and outside the state, the new Ayushman Card and Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Card will be valid across over 29,000 hospitals nationwide ¹.
The Vaya Vandana card, part of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, will be provided to senior citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of their financial status. Unlike the previous family-wise health card, the new cards will be issued to individuals, the minister said. This change aims to enhance healthcare accessibility and financial security for State residents.
The state government expects increased central funding following the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat scheme. If introduced in 2018, Odisha could have received approximately Rs 3,000 crore in funds through the health card. The scheme promises cashless treatment, eliminating third-party settlements and insurance company involvement.
To raise awareness, the Swasthya Chetana Ratha will tour villages for seven days starting April 11, distributing leaflets to every household. ASHA workers will also be engaged in this effort. Beneficiaries can obtain their cards at Common Service Centres. Those without cards in the initial phase can still access treatment at empaneled hospitals by producing their Aadhaar card or previous health card.
