The Odisha government will implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri – Jan Arogya Yojana in February 2025, announced Health & Family Welfare Minister Dr Mukesh Mahaling on Wednesday.
This flagship scheme of the Central Government aims to provide accessible healthcare coverage to over 3.5 crore people in the state.
During an interaction with OTV, the minister mentioned that the proposal for rolling out Ayushman Bharat in Odisha has been submitted and is expected to be approved by the Union Cabinet soon. Following this approval, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed.
The Health Minister confirmed that the scheme will become operational after the distribution of cards to beneficiaries once the MoU is signed. He stated, “On January 13, a Memorandum of Understanding will be signed between the Central and State Governments. After the MoU, we will begin the printing and distribution of beneficiary cards, allowing us to launch the scheme by February.”
Previously, Mukesh Mahaling expressed optimism about implementing Ayushman Bharat alongside the Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana, a regional program aimed at enhancing healthcare accessibility. He stated, “Together, these two schemes will significantly improve health conditions in Odisha.”
Under the combined scheme, men will receive healthcare coverage of Rs 5 lakh, while women will be eligible for Rs 10 lakh at approximately 30,000 hospitals nationwide. As of January 1, the state government has successfully linked the e-KYC data of 1 crore individuals in Odisha to the central database, making them eligible for benefits under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
According to the Health Minister, the e-KYC process for all remaining beneficiaries will be completed by February, ensuring the prompt rollout of the scheme thereafter.
