THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, JANUARY 19, 2026

Odisha has emerged as a national frontrunner in the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), standing first in the distribution of Ayushman Bharat cards to eligible beneficiaries, even as the state government moves swiftly to address technical issues related to the scheme.

Odisha Health Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling on Monday assured that all glitches associated with the Ayushman Bharat card would be resolved soon. He was speaking while inaugurating a national-level Chintan Shivir on AB-PMJAY and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) in Bhubaneswar.

In his inaugural address, the Minister said ABPMJAY, an outcome of the National Health Policy-2017 launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has brought about a transformative change in India’s healthcare landscape. “It is now the largest universal healthcare system of world. Around 42 percent of India’s bottom level population were brought under this healthcare system,” said Mahaling.

Highlighting Odisha’s performance, he said the programme was launched in the state on April 11, 2025, and within just nine months, Odisha stood first in the distribution of ABPMJAY cards and fifth in the generation of Ayushman Vaya Vandana Yojana (AVVY) cards for senior citizens aged 70 years and above. He noted that ABPMJAY has been implemented in convergence with the state’s own flagship Gopabandhu Jana Arogya Yojana (GJAY), ensuring comprehensive health coverage. Under the converged scheme, each beneficiary family is entitled to cashless treatment of Rs. 5 lakh per year, with an additional Rs. 5 lakh earmarked exclusively for female members of the family.

The Health Minister further said that all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their economic status, are entitled to the same benefits under AVVY. With around 80 percent of Odisha’s population of 4.5 crore already covered under the converged health scheme, the state has set a benchmark in inclusive healthcare delivery.

Mahaling also urged participants at the Chintan Shivir to deliberate on the inclusion of Ayurvedic and Homeopathic treatment packages in ABPMJAY alongside allopathic care. He informed that Odisha has initiated the implementation of ABDM in alignment with the guidelines of the National Health Authority, integrating digital health services with the insurance framework.

The two-day Chintan Shivir features six sessions, including five technical sessions. The inaugural session also witnessed the signing of three key Memoranda of Understanding between the National Health Authority and BHASINI for multilingual access to health services, the Indian Institute of Sciences for collaborative research, and the National Accreditation Board of Hospitals for maintaining national standards across healthcare facilities, reinforcing the vision of a robust, accessible, and future-ready health ecosystem.