The National Health Authority (NHA) has signed an agreement with Odisha to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) health insurance scheme. Odisha is now the 34th state to join this program.
Here's a simplified explanation:
What is AB PM-JAY? It's the world's largest health insurance program. It provides health insurance of ₹5 lakh (approximately $6,000 USD) per family per year, with an additional ₹5 lakh for women. It's a fully digital program designed to cover about 45% of India's population.
What is happening in Odisha? Odisha is now implementing AB PM-JAY along with its existing health program, the Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana (GJAY).
What will this mean for people in Odisha?
About 1.03 crore (10.3 million) families will benefit.
67.8 lakh (6.78 million) of those families will be supported by the national government.
People will have access to more hospitals (over 29,000, including both government and private hospitals, compared to about 900 before).
They will be able to get cashless treatment, meaning they won't have to pay out of pocket at the hospital.
Why is this agreement important? It's a big step towards improving healthcare in Odisha and making it more accessible to everyone.
What has AB PM-JAY achieved nationally?
Over 8.19 crore (81.9 million) hospital admissions.
About ₹1.13 lakh crore (approximately $13.5 billion USD) spent on healthcare for poor communities.
Improved healthcare access in remote areas, including areas affected by Naxalism (a left-wing extremist movement).
Key Facts about AB PM-JAY:
Covers almost 2,000 medical procedures across 27 specializations.
Aims to benefit about 4.5 crore (45 million) people in Odisha.
Increased hospital admissions significantly in some states (e.g. 30 times in Madhya Pradesh).
Has special programs for senior citizens (Ayushman Vay Vandana Card).
Has improved access to cancer treatment.
What are the future plans for healthcare in Odisha?
The program is expected to improve the health of 86% of Odisha's population.
The government wants to expand digital health services to all districts.
This is part of larger development plans called "Viksit Bharat" and "Utkarsh Odisha."
The program will especially help tribal communities, poor people, and migrant workers.
Key Terms/Acronyms:
NHA: National Health Authority.
AB PM-JAY: Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
GJAY: Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana.
In simple terms: Odisha has joined a national health insurance program called AB PM-JAY. This will give millions of people in Odisha better access to healthcare and allow them to get treatment without having to pay cash at the hospital. The program has been very successful in other parts of India and is expected to greatly improve healthcare in Odisha, especially for the poor and those living in remote areas.