The Odisha government has announced plans to establish medical colleges in Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Dhenkanal, and Nabarangpur districts.
This initiative was unveiled by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today during the launch of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) in the state.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, in his speech, welcomed Union Health Minister JP Nadda and stated that today marks a new chapter in the history of Odisha’s development.
He highlighted that this historic scheme, which has been neglected for political reasons over the last six years, is officially starting today. The Chief Minister emphasized that the government is committed to the healthcare of the people of the state and assured that financial constraints will not hinder this commitment.
Approximately 1 crore 3 lakh families, or 3 crore 46 lakh beneficiaries in the state, will benefit from this scheme. Each family will receive free healthcare treatment up to Rs. 5 lakh per year at 29,000 private and government hospitals listed across the state. Additionally, female members of each family will receive extra treatment, amounting to another Rs. 5 lakh per year.
Senior citizens aged 70 and above will also receive free treatment of Rs. 5 lakh per family under the Ayushman Vaya-Vandana Yojana, benefiting more than 23 lakh senior citizens. With the inclusion of an additional six lakh individuals already covered under the Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana, the total number of beneficiaries will reach 3 crore 52 lakh.
Furthermore, the Odisha government will receive a central share for the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana in a 60:40 ratio. The state government has also contributed significantly to this initiative.
The Chief Minister noted that, due to political reasons, many students in Odisha were previously excluded from the New Education Policy-2020. However, his government has already implemented this policy since taking office, which will greatly benefit students and secure their bright futures.
Regarding steps taken in the healthcare sector, the Chief Minister stated that the new government has appointed 4,000 doctors and healthcare workers across different categories in three phases so far. Additionally, the process to recruit 5,374 more doctors and dentists is underway, with the goal of accomplishing this target soon.
He also mentioned that beneficiaries residing outside Odisha will have access to free treatment in hospitals designated by their respective state governments across India. The names and addresses of these hospitals will be publicly available on the Health Department or the Ayushman Bharat website.
The Chief Minister revealed that Rs. 3,881 crore has been allocated in the current budget for health infrastructure projects under the Chief Minister’s Health Service Mission, with an additional Rs. 420 crore for hospitals.
To meet the healthcare needs of the population, new medical colleges will be established in a phased manner. Currently, there are 12 medical colleges in the state, and this year, funds have been allocated for four new medical colleges in Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, Nabarangpur, and Dhenkanal.
