Odisha Chief Minister Criticises BJD for Denying Ayushman Bharat Health Benefits to Citizens

Odisha's Chief Minister, Mohan Charan Majhi, criticised the previous Naveen Patnaik administration for not implementing the Ayushman Bharat scheme. He accused the BJD government of denying citizens the benefits of this health insurance programme for personal reasons. Majhi's comments came after attending a programme in New Delhi where a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Odisha government and the Centre to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.

The Ayushman Bharat scheme, introduced by the Centre in 2018, offers cashless coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh annually per eligible family for specific medical conditions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his views on X, stating, "It was indeed a travesty that my sisters and brothers of Odisha were denied the benefits of Ayushman Bharat by the previous government. This scheme will ensure the highest-quality healthcare at affordable rates."

Political Reactions and Allegations

The BJD dismissed Majhi's allegations, claiming that the BJP was attempting to gain political advantage. Sasmit Patra, BJD's national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP, responded on X, highlighting that Odisha's people appreciate the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY). He mentioned that during the 2024 elections, BJP had promised to discontinue BSKY if they came to power, labelling it as ineffective.

Majhi asserted that after BJP assumed power in Odisha last year, they implemented the Ayushman Bharat scheme. He stated that despite their demands as an opposition party, the previous BJD government ignored them. The term "double engine" is often used by BJP leaders to describe their governance at both state and central levels.

Changes in Health Schemes

The current administration has replaced BSKY with Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana (GJAY) and integrated it with Ayushman Bharat. This change aims to benefit 1.3 crore families in Odisha, expanding healthcare access from about 900 hospitals under BSKY to around 30,000 facilities.

BJP President and Union Health Minister J P Nadda also criticised the previous Naveen Patnaik government for not implementing Ayushman Bharat due to political considerations. Majhi announced plans to establish Ayushman Arogya Mandir health centres in each gram panchayat. These centres will have a team including an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM), a yoga teacher, and a health worker.

Future Prospects and Benefits

With the integration of Ayushman Bharat and GJAY, men will receive health assurance of Rs 5 lakh annually, while women will get Rs 10 lakh. The implementation of this scheme was a significant promise in BJP's election manifesto. Majhi emphasised that this initiative would provide comprehensive healthcare services across Odisha.

Naveen Patnaik's approach as chief minister prioritised Odisha's welfare over political gains. However, Majhi accused BJP of using Ayushman Yojana for political mud-slinging. He described this political discourse as "extremely sad and unfortunate," reflecting ongoing tensions between the two parties over health policy implementation.