CM Patnaik says people of Odisha residing outside state can avail benefits of BSKY

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Saturday said, people of Odisha residing outside the state can also avail benefits under the state government's healthcare scheme - the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY).

People can get the facilities of BSKY in all premier healthcare institutions across the country, including Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, CMC Vellore and Narayan Hrudalaya, Patnaik said.

The chief minister after a review meeting of the BSKY scheme said since the BSKY was implemented on August 16 over one crore people have taken benefit of it.

"I am happy to note that the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana has benefited over one crore cases in the first 60 days," Patnaik said.

The state government also announced that for treatment of cancer, heart and kidney ailments, people with annual income of Rs 3 lakh will get benefits under the scheme. Earlier, the annual income amount was Rs 1 lakh.

In the case of referral to a hospital outside the state, the transportation charge of Rs 2,000 per patient will be provided.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Pratap Jena claimed that nearly 4,036 diseases are being covered under the BSKY against only 1,343 diseases under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana It was also decided to empanel all state and central government hospitals outside Odisha under Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana in order to provide healthcare to Odias living in other places.

"To provide health care to people of Odisha even outside the state, it has been decided that all state and Central government hospitals outside the state are deemed to be empanelled under BSKY and the treatment cost will be paid to a beneficiary bank account," Jena said.