Odisha is set to integrate Ayushman Bharat PMJAY with Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana for improved health coverage via a single health card
OdishaPlus Bureau
The Odisha government is poised to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the execution of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). In this context, a central team arrived on Wednesday to finalize the details for its integration with the state-sponsored Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana (GJAY).
The three-member delegation, headed by LS Changsan, the CEO of the National Health Authority (NHA), engaged in discussions regarding the integration process with the state’s Health and Family Welfare Secretary, Aswathy S, the mission director of the National Health Mission, Dr. Brundha D, and other senior officials.
The integration will employ an assurance-based model, which will differ from the current framework of PMJAY, thereby minimizing any disruption for beneficiaries. Cardholders can rest assured that they will continue to receive health coverage as they have in the past.
A new arrangement will see the issuance of a single health card to each eligible beneficiary, effectively merging the benefits of both schemes. Women will continue to receive enhanced health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh as part of this initiative.
The GJAY scheme (formerly known as BSKY) offers annual cashless treatment of ₹5 lakh per family, along with an additional ₹5 lakh specifically for women beneficiaries. In contrast, AB-PMJAY provides health insurance coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family each year. The distinctions between these two schemes—one operating as a health assurance model and the other as an insurance-based system, along with the provision for an extra ₹5 lakh for women beneficiaries—were significant factors contributing to the delay in the implementation of AB-PMJAY.
Following an extensive dialogue with health officials, the central team subsequently convened with Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja before engaging in a separate meeting with Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling to address the challenges associated with the seamless integration of the two healthcare schemes.
The Health Secretary indicated that discussions are nearing completion, and the AB-PMJAY initiative is expected to be implemented in the state shortly. Necessary IT integration will be conducted on the backend to guarantee uninterrupted health services for beneficiaries.
Currently, approximately 3.5 crore individuals from 1.1 crore families are enrolled in GJAY. It is anticipated that at least 67.8 lakh families will be included under AB-PMJAY following its launch. New health cards are set to be distributed starting in January, contingent upon the formal signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, as reported by sources.
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