With the Panchayat elections round the corner, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) Smart Card scheme (a health insurance scheme) at a special programme at the Sanskruti Bhawan in Malkangiri on Friday. The scheme is aimed at transforming the delivery system of health services in Odisha.
Patnaik also distributed smart cards to the beneficiaries in Malkangiri during the programme. Several Ministers and MLAs were present on the occasion.
In his speech, Patnaik said, “Around 3.5 crore people belonging to 96 lakh families in the State will receive BSKY Smart Cards. The beneficiaries will avail healthcare facilities under the scheme from September 1.”
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The Odisha government had announced the expansion of its flagship health insurance scheme - Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) on the occasion of the 75th Independence Day.
The scheme will extend cashless health coverage to the smartcard holders in more than 200 empanelled hospitals in the State.
“We have decided to start the scheme from Malkangiri and the distribution of such health cards is first of its kind in the country. It will go a long way in strengthening health security of people in the State,” added Patnaik.
As per the system, no document is required for cashless healthcare services in government facilities. However, the beneficiaries will have to produce the food security card (until they get the smart card) at the empanelled private hospitals for availing cashless care up to the annual financial limit.