PM-JAY & GJAY To Cover More Population & Hospitals, Says Odisha Health Minister

Bhubaneswar: Around 3.5 crore population of Odisha would be covered by twin health schemes of the Centre’s Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and the state’s Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana (GJAY), said Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling on Sunday.

Stating that twin health schemes would benefit more people than the previous government’s Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY), Mahaling said those would be extended to the entire 4.3 crore population of the state in phases.

Besides covering more people, the schemes would cover treatment in more hospitals. While the beneficiaries were getting treatment in 956 empanelled hospitals under the BSKY card, the AB PM-JAY and GJAY will provide treatment in far more hospitals across the country, he added.

The minister further said budgetary provision has already been made for the two schemes and their cards would be issued to the beneficiaries soon. The beneficiaries would receive the benefits in assurance mode, he added.

It may be noted that the present BJP government in the state has replaced the BSKY with GJAY along with PM-JAY to provide cashless treatment to patients of the state.