Odisha modifies guidelines of Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana; all govt hospitals covered

Bhubaneswar: After facing criticism, Odisha government on Saturday made massive changes in guidelines of Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) with the annual income limit for treatment of cancer, heart and kidney diseases increased from Rs 1 lakh per annum to Rs 3 lakh per annum. Besides, all premier hospitals including Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, CMC Vellore, Narayana Hrudalaya have also been covered under the scheme.

The government which has been claiming its health care scheme better than Centre's Ayushman Bharat yojana changed the guidelines to benefit more families in the State.

Terming State's own health care scheme a success, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik informed that over 1.1 crore patients have already been benefitted within two months of the launch of the scheme.

"Odias who are living outside Odisha can now also avail the scheme anywhere in the country and the people from the State who wish to seek the benefits the scheme outside the State can do so," said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

State Health and Family Welfare Minister, Pratap Jena informed that nearly 4,036 medical packages were included under the BSKY whereas the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) covers only 1,343 packages.

A patient who will be referred to a hospital outside the State will get a conveyance charge at the rate of Rs 2,000 and the amount will be transferred to the bank account of the beneficiary.