By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, August 17, 2021: In a bid to cover more families under the state’s flagship health scheme, the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY), Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday announced 25 lakh more families taking the total number to 96 lakh families from the current around 71.69 lakh ones.

Odisha is among the states that have not implemented the Centre’s flagship scheme, the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). It has instead come out with its own health insurance scheme.

About 3.5 crore people of the state’s total 4.5 crore population will soon get smart health cards under the scheme, which was launched three years ago on August 15. Official sources said the cards will be given to the beneficiaries in a phased manner from September 1. The eligibility criteria have been revised to include the beneficiaries of the National and State Food Security Schemes, the Annapurna and Antodaya Anna Yojana.

Making the announcement at the state-level celebration of the 75th Independence Day, the chief minister said the initiative will go a long way in transforming the healthcare service delivery system.

“All the people of Odisha are my family. The news of people selling land, jewellery and not sending children to school to manage their treatment costs pains me. Therefore, I decided that this type of distress must go. People should get hassle-free quality treatment at the best available healthcare facilities. So Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana was redesigned to provide smart health cards to people that will work as debit cards for a certain amount,” Naveen said.

So far, beneficiaries of the Biju Krushak Kalyan Yojana, families living below the poverty line (BPL), the Antyodaya card holders and those with less than Rs 2 lakh annual income were included in the BSKY.

While each family can avail themselves of treatment cost up to Rs 5 lakh per annum, women members can avail of this benefit up to Rs 10 lakh every year. The beneficiaries can avail of the health services in more than 200 hospital chains in and outside Odisha. The government has empanelled 183 hospitals within the state and 17 outside for the purpose.

It will empanel more hospitals of national repute outside the state to provide cashless care to BSKY card holders.