Bhubaneswar: The Health and Family Welfare (H & FW) department of Odisha government has refuted allegations levelled by Lakshman Kumbhar, a heart patient from Bhela village of Nuapada district, who said that his photo was used by the government in hoardings, banners and newspapers ads as a beneficiary of Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) but was not given any financial assistance.
In a video which went viral on social media, Kumbhar claimed that he used his own money for treatment and visited SCB medical multiple times in the last 2 months but did not get any help from the State government.
He also said that he was hurt after his photo was used by the State government as a beneficiary of BSKY.
However, the H & FW department has said that Kumbhar was persuaded to mislead people on BSKY scheme. "Under BSKY he was given drugs, diagnostics, ECG, indoor bed, diet & other services free," the department tweeted.
“He was referred to SCB MCH for further treatment. The photograph of patient was taken with his consent as he was a recipient of all services provided cashless under BSKY at District Headquarters Hospital Nuapada,” H & PW department tweeted.
After the matter came to fore, Odisha BJP president, Basant Panda had slammed the State government and accused Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of spreading lies.