Cuttack (Odisha) [India], April 11 (ANI): Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday asserted that a new feather was added to Odisha's development story after the launch of 'Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana' in the state.

Highlighting the benefits of the scheme, Odisha CM Said, 'From today onwards, beneficiaries of Odisha will get a free healthcare facility. Odia people residing outside the state will also get the benefit. They can avail themselves of the facility in the hospitals outside the state.'

Union Health Minister and BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda launched the 'Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana', 'Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana' and 'Ayushman Vaya Vandana Yojana' in the presence of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in Cuttack on Friday.

In a reference to the BJP government in the state and Centre, Odisha CM said that the state is now moving fast with a double-engine government.

He stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ayushman Bharat scheme is benefiting people across the nation, especially the poor and underprivileged sections.

Majhi informed that more than 4,000 doctors have been appointed under the current administration and 5,000 more appointments are under process. He underlined the commitment of the state government to strengthen health infrastructure in the state and stated its aim to establish a medical college in all the districts of the state.

On this occasion, Odisha Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling highlighted that '3.50 Cr people of the state will get health insurance cards under Ayushman Bharat & Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana and 23 lakhs elderly people in Odisha will also benefit under the Vaya Vandana Yojana.'

'Thanks to PM Modi and Health Minister for the historic rollout of the scheme,' he added.

During the event, JP Nadda and CM Majhi distributed co-branded cards of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri - Jan Arogya Yojana and Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana in Cuttack today. The Ayushman Vaya Vandana Yojana was also launched during the event.

Addressing the gathering, JP Nadda said that 'today is a historic day for Odisha, as the AB PM-JAY, the world's largest health coverage program under which 62 crore people are currently being benefitted, will connect approximately 1.3 crore families, almost 3.52 crore people of Odisha.'

Nadda informed that more than 8.19 crore people have availed services under the scheme and Rs 1.26 lakh crore have been spent under the same to provide healthcare services to the people of the country.

The Union Health Minister highlighted that around 61 crore people are covered under the scheme now. He said, 'earlier, more than 55 crore people were covered under the scheme. (ANI)