Bhubaneswar: Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana (AVVY) has proved to be harbinger of universal healthcare for senior citizens of Odisha.
The scheme has turned a boon and savior of all elderly and retired people of the State irrespective of their economic status. They served the society all through their life; and, now this scheme envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi serves them at their need for clinical care.
The scheme provides for cashless treatment of Rs. 5 lakh per annum per senior citizen family and additional Rs.5 lakh for women member of the family.
The Yojana is gaining rapid popularity in all parts of Odisha from the capital city to the remotest village. Available data shows, around5.82 lakh senior citizens of 5.33 lakh families have been registered under the scheme within last 5 months up to end of August, 2025.
It may be pertinent here to mention that the scheme was lunched in Odisha on 11th April of current year. In the meanwhile, around 10, 146 senior citizens have already received cashless treatment in empaneled private sector specialist hospitals both inside and outside the state of Odisha. Govt has provided around Rs. 3960.77 lakh through AVVY card towards the cost of their treatment.
One such instance is T Laxmi aged about 72 years in Kamthana village of Kalahandi District. She belongs to a middle-class family and her husband is a retired employee. Her family consisting of 6 members lives on pension and little earning of her son from private job.
All of a sudden on 5th July, T Laxmi experienced a severe chest pain at her home. She was taken to Bhawanipatna Govt. hospital. There she was admitted as an indoor patient for treatment.
The doctors made preliminary diagnosis and treatment. It was found that She suffered from complex cardiac problems. After being stabilized in the hospital with preliminary treatment and care, she was referred to higher facilities for further management.
At that critical hour AVVY card gave her the assurance and confidence that she would get higher quality treatment in super specialist hospitals. Her husband rushed her to Kalinga Hospital, Bhubaneswar and she was admitted there on 6 July, 2025.
Detail diagnosis with angiogram procedure showed that she suffered from two cardiac artery blockages. Required angioplasty surgery was conducted, and 2 stents were implanted for opening the blockages. She was provided the whole treatment free of cost.
Entire cost of the treatment (around 1.72 lakhs) was provided by Government through AVVY card without any financial burden to the family. She was discharged from the hospital on 10.07.2025.
Her son T. Bhanu Prasad Rao with a sense of relief and smile on his face said, “we are grateful to our Prime Minister Narendra Modi who started the scheme for all senior citizens, and our Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi for implementing the scheme in Odisha. The scheme saved our mother. Without the card we could not have afforded for such an expensive treatment”.
