Odisha Likely to Join AB-PMJAY Soon

Except Delhi and West Bengal, all other states and UTs have adopted the AB-PMJAY scheme according to a ministry official.

Odisha is expected to join the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) in the near future, according to health ministry sources.

Talks between the Odisha government, now led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the National Health Authority (NHA), which oversees the scheme’s implementation, are reportedly in the final stages. An official agreement is expected to be signed within the next few days.

"Once Odisha is on board, only two states and union territories — Delhi and West Bengal — will remain outside AB-PMJAY. All other states and UTs have adopted the scheme," said a senior health ministry official.

Launched in 2018, AB-PMJAY provides health coverage of INR 5 Lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization, benefiting around 55 crore people across 12.34 crore poor and vulnerable families.

Previously, Odisha, under the leadership of BJD’s Naveen Patnaik, opted out of the scheme, citing its own health initiative, the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY), which reportedly covers nearly 90% of the state’s population and offers higher health coverage.

However, with the change in government, Odisha is now preparing to align with the national health program.

In a similar development, just days back, the Union Cabinet announced expanding the AB-PMJAY to provide health coverage of INR 5 Lakh for all senior citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of income.

Announced by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the new provision will offer an additional INR 5 Lakh top-up for those already covered under AB-PMJAY, ensuring they don't share coverage with family members.

Beneficiaries of schemes such as CGHS, ECHS, and Ayushman CAPF can opt for AB-PMJAY, while seniors with private or state insurance are also eligible.

According to the latest official data, the AB-PMJAY has provided free hospitalization benefits worth INR 90,204 Cr to beneficiaries across India.

The scheme has seen significant uptake, particularly in states including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat, which lead in beneficiary numbers.

AB-PMJAY offers nearly 2,000 cashless procedures, covering expenses such as treatment, medicines, diagnostics, physician fees, and hospital charges.

Common treatments include general medicine, infectious diseases, general surgery, medical oncology, ophthalmology, and orthopedics, with procedures like hemodialysis, COVID-19 screening, and treatment for acute febrile illness being frequently utilized.

Over 353.4 million Ayushman Cards have been issued, and 30,357 public and private hospitals are empaneled under the scheme, ensuring broad access to healthcare services.