Union minister urges Odisha to adopt Ayushman Bharat Yojana

Bhubaneswar: Union Minister of State for Health, Ashwini Kumar Choubey today urged the Odisha government to adopt Centre's Ayushman Bharat Yojana along with its own Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana.
Speaking during the inauguration the Fakir Mohan Medical College and Hospital in Balasore today, Choubey praised Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for the State's own healthcare coverage programme.
"I congratulate Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for the remarkable health scheme launched in late Biju Patnaik's name, but at the same time I urge him to adopt the Ayushman Bharat scheme of the central government. It would immensely benefit the people of Odisha," said Choubey.
"Our MoU with 29 states is over. However, unless Bihar and Odisha join us, it will remain incomplete. We are hopeful that Odisha will join us soon to implement the scheme and strengthen the healthcare coverage mechanism in the country" said the Minister.

Choubey also announced three new medical colleges for the state in Jajpur, Bhadrak and Dhenkanal.
"The state government has already provided us 5 acres of land at Jajpur. However we need 20 acres of land for the project and once we are provided the land, we will finalise the proposal," he said.