Bhubaneswar: Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) will be implemented in Odisha during this financial year, said health secretary Aswathy S here on Wednesday, while discussing it with a team of officials from the Centre.
Stating that the scheme is likely to be rolled out within the next three months, the health secretary said the three-member team came to see the preparedness for the implementation of the much-awaited Central scheme. “We have discussed all the processes, procedures, what needs to be done stepwise, and the responsibility of each stakeholder so that it can be implemented at the earliest,” she added.
AB-PMJAY, a health insurance/assurance scheme of the Centre, will be integrated with the state’s Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana (G-JAY). Central and state top officials are discussing this aspect. The govt will issue a single card for the beneficiaries after the implementation of the scheme.
Health minister Mukesh Mahaling recently stated the govt’s preparation for the implementation of the scheme in Odisha. “We will provide the card to approximately 3.5 crore people of Odisha. Like PMJAY, we will also include people above 70 years of age to get the facility of this scheme. Through the integrated health card, the 70+ years old person will get the benefits,” said the minister in his earlier media statement.
In Sept, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced the integration of the central and state health insurance schemes. The BJP promised in its Odisha poll manifesto to implement the AB-PMJAY within 100 days of coming to power and cover state residents with an annual income lower than Rs 8 lakh per annum.
Naveen Patnaik-led govt did not implement AB-PMJAY in Odisha and instead implemented the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana, which has now been renamed as G-JAY. Since the Central scheme covers beneficiaries based on deprivation and occupational criteria of the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 (SECC 2011), close to 70 lakh families in Odisha are eligible for it. The state scheme covers close to one crore families — all ration card holders.