JP Nadda launches unified Ayushman Card and special senior citizen health cover in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, April 11: Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Friday officially launched the distribution of the newly integrated Ayushman Card at the Bali Jatra ground in Cuttack. This unified health card merges the benefits of the central government's Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) with the state-supported Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana (GJAY), formerly known as Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY).

Also unveiled was the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card, which ensures a health cover of ₹5 lakh for every senior citizen aged 70 and above, regardless of their economic background. This move aims to extend quality healthcare to the elderly without any cost barriers.

During his address, Nadda highlighted that the scheme is based on trust and enables doctors—not insurance companies—to determine treatment eligibility at over 30,000 empanelled hospitals across India.

Criticizing the previous BJD government, Nadda said Odisha, along with Delhi and West Bengal, initially refused to implement AB-PMJAY. Despite repeated efforts, including appeals from senior BJP leader Jual Oram, the proposal was rejected. Nadda attributed this refusal to the former CM's unwillingness to accept a central initiative.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy Chief Ministers KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida, Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling, and Union Minister Jual Oram were present at the launch.

The integrated scheme will benefit around 3.5 crore people from 1.03 crore families in Odisha, offering ₹5 lakh annual health coverage per family, with an additional ₹5 lakh exclusively for women. Families with senior citizens aged 70 and above will be eligible for a total coverage of ₹15 lakh. Beneficiaries can access free, cashless treatment in over 29,000 government and private hospitals across the country, a significant jump from the 900 hospitals previously listed under BSKY.

The state government has sanctioned ₹27,019 crore for the implementation of Ayushman Bharat and GJAY over the next five years.