Berhampur: Alleging gross irregularities in the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana, the state government’s flagship health insurance scheme, some local residents of Berhampur have claimed that they have been given Biju Krushak Kalyan Yojana (BKKY) cards in place of Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) cards and their health cover have been reduced to Rs 70,000 from Rs 5 lakh.
The allegations have been levelled by patients of ward number 4 of the Berhmapur Municipal Corporation.
"After coming here, the hospital authorities said that only Rs 70, 000 can be availed. We are feeling dejected," a patient Shyam Sundar Nayak.
However, the Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Sadananda Mishra has refuted the allegations. He said that the healthcare assistance is being given through Krushak Kalyan card since the authorities are unable to carry out any critical surgeries at the city hospital due to lack of quality infrastructure. Besides, after availing healthcare benefits from 'Niramaya' and other such schemes people generally don't need other healthcare insurance facilities for their treatment at the hospital, the CDMO added.
Berhampur City Hospital Protocol Manager Gangapani Behera said, “We have not received any official notification for providing healthcare facilities under BSKY. But as far we know there are provisions of health cover of Rs 1 lakh through RSBY and BKKY but we have no idea about the modalities of provision for health cover o the rest Rs 4 lakh under BSKY.”
Meanwhile, reports of irregularities have sparked criticism from the opposition parties.
BJP state secretary, Bibhuti Bhusan Jena said, “Let alone BSKY cards, the swiping machine required for BKKY cards are also not present in MKCG Medical College and Hospital but the state government is boasting about providing healthcare benefits to 1 crore people.”
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Similarly, Ganjam district Congress executive president Deepak Pattnaik alleged that the ruling BJD is trying to fool the people of Odisha.
However, BJD MLA Ramesh Chandra Chyau Patnaik said Biju Krushak card facilities which were earlier provided to the people have been renewed but new Biju Swasthya Kalyan cards have not been given.