The Odisha government has decided to implement the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) alongside the existing Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana (GJAY) in the state from April 1. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday night.

According to an official release from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the scheme will be launched across all 1,438 primary health centres (PHCs) in the state. The initiative aims to provide better healthcare services to beneficiaries by integrating the national health insurance programme with the state’s existing scheme.

To ensure the successful rollout of the scheme, a massive awareness campaign will be undertaken to inform the public about the benefits and implementation process. The campaign will focus on educating citizens about eligibility, hospital coverage, and how to avail of the services under the scheme.

The Ayushman Bharat scheme is the flagship health insurance programme of the central government, providing financial protection to economically vulnerable families for medical treatment. By merging it with Odisha’s Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana, the state aims to expand healthcare coverage and strengthen its medical infrastructure.

Officials have been directed to ensure a smooth transition and seamless integration of both schemes. The state government is optimistic that this move will significantly enhance healthcare accessibility for the people of Odisha.