OD-BSKY

The Odisha government

Thursday announced extension of free health services under the

state's flagship health scheme the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana

(BSKY) to all state run medical college and hospitals.

The announcement was made by Chief Minister Naveen

Patnaik. As per the new decision, the provision of universal

free health services will be extended up to all government

medical college and hospitals from February 1.

All patients, irrespective of APL or BPL category,

will avail this facility. Besides, all patients will also

avail Blood Bank facility free of cost, he said.

Previously, the free treatment facilities for all were

available from Sub-Centres at village level up to the District

Headquarters Hospital level, but not in medical colleges.

Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana was launched on August

15, 2018 and in the next five months since, the scheme has

received an overwhelming response, with over 2.25 crore

instances of free healthcare availed by the people of Odisha,

he claimed.

In the initial phase of BSKY, all health services in

government facilities up to the District Headquarters Hospital

level had been made free for all persons.

This cashless care is being provided to all persons

with no requirement of any income, residence or any other

document.

The free services will cover all procedures provided

in all government health facilities, including in-patient

beds, surgeries, OT facility, ICU facility etc., without any

charge.

"For this, the state government has made an additional

provision of over Rs 100 crore from the state budget," the

chief minister said.

In empanelled private hospitals, over 70 lakh families

will continue to avail cashless care up to Rs 5 lakh per annum

per family, and Rs 7 lakh for women members of the family.