Current Affairs - State - Discussion

Odisha has introduced a comprehensive unified health insurance scheme that merges Ayushman Bharat, Gopabandhu Jan Arogya, and Ayushman Vayo-Vandana Yojana. This initiative provides ₹5 lakh annual coverage per family, with an additional ₹5 lakh exclusively for women, ensuring broader health protection. Covering 352 lakh individuals from 1.08 crore families, the scheme enables access to cashless treatment at over 29,000 hospitals across India. Significantly, senior citizens aged 70 and above are included irrespective of income, promoting inclusive healthcare. Over 1,400 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) are also participating virtually in the launch, highlighting the state’s digital and healthcare infrastructure efforts.