BSKY vs Ayushman Bharat: Patients in Odisha caught between promises and systemic gaps

Patients and their families in Odisha have raised serious complaints regarding the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, questioning its efficiency compared to the state’s earlier Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY).

According to the grievances, several facilities that were available under BSKY are missing in Ayushman Bharat Yojana. Patients are also facing hurdles due to biometric linkage issues and OTP verification problems, which have left many of them stranded in the middle of treatment.

A round-table meeting involving various political parties and organizations was held in Bhubaneswar on Saturday to discuss these issues. While opposition parties criticized the state of affairs, the BJP countered by asking whether the discontent is arising only because the name of Biju Babu has been dropped from the scheme.

The central debate remains that which scheme provided better benefits – BSKY or Ayushman? The controversy around Ayushman Health Cards continues, with inconsistencies and disputes leaving patients, especially those with severe illnesses in distress.

Take the case of Pramod Kumar Das, a 59-year-old from Bhubaneswar suffering from renal cancer. He said that under BSKY, medicines worth up to Rs 5 lakh could be requisitioned without difficulty. Treatments such as immunotherapy and chemotherapy, which were accessible earlier, are not available under Ayushman. Patients now struggle with medicine requisition procedures and are forced to stand in long queues, adding to their physical suffering.

"Immunotherapy and chemotherapy were sanctioned in BSKY. However, these treatments are not sanctioned in Ayushman. Patient himself is to be present during medicine requisition in Ayushman. When a patient's condition is very bad, how could he be present during medicine requisition?" asked Pramod Kumar Das.

A similar complaint was raised by the relative of a patient battling ovarian cancer, who alleged that crucial funds are not being approved in time, forcing them to continue certain treatments outside the scheme at their own expense.

"We were asked to buy a chemo of Rs 50,000 from outside as the high amount of funds is not available in the Ayushman card," said a relative of a patient.

The debate over whether Ayushman or BSKY served patients better is intensifying, as the sick and critically ill continue to bear the brunt of systemic gaps.

Complaints over patients not receiving proper treatment under the Ayushman Bharat scheme were raised once again today at a 'Jan Swasthya Abhiyan' roundtable meeting in Bhubaneswar.

In the presence of the Leader of Opposition, various organizations, individuals working in the health sector, as well as patients and their families, highlighted the persistent issues with the scheme. Concerns included private hospitals refusing Ayushman cards due to biometric linkage failures, problems with OTP verification, and difficulties in securing approval for higher-level treatment even after medical procedures had begun. Patients are reportedly suffering because of the lengthy processes of linkage and approval.

Other issues raised included the absence of a Nodal Officer for Ayushman Bharat in Odisha, lack of coverage for snakebites, common ailments, and outpatient care, which activists described as major shortcomings.

"If a patient has been admitted and he requires ICU, ventilator, or better treatment after four to five days, he has to get permission again in the Ayushman scheme. However, this government has withdrawn the Nodal Officer, who is the authority to give permission," said Gouranga Mohapatra, Convener of Jan Swasthya Abhiyan.

Following the roundtable meeting, both the BJD and Congress criticized the government. The Congress warned of launching a public movement over the failures of the Ayushman scheme, while the BJP strongly countered the allegations.

"We are not seeing any major development in the health sector as promised in the last 12 months after the new government came to power. We are trying to launch a large public movement against it," said Congress leader Sudarsan Das.

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"Ayushman Yojana has now become 'Smashana' Yojana. BSKY is assured. However, Ayushman Bharat Yojana is an insurance. Ayushman Bharat has totally failed," said BJD leader Arun Sahoo.

"As Biju Patnaik's name has been removed from the scheme, BJD is reacting. After getting discarded by the people, their criticism will not be accepted," said BJP spokesperson Manoj Mohapatra.