Bhubaneswar: In a major relief for cancer patients across the state, the Odisha government on Saturday announced the inclusion of comprehensive cancer care under Ayushman Bharat card scheme.
Speaking about the initiative, Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling said that the move aims to ensure that life-saving cancer treatments are accessible to all citizens without financial burden. “The number of cancer patients has been steadily increasing. Under the Chief Minister’s Cancer Arogya Yojana, we are introducing 121 new treatment packages specifically for cancer care. The state government will fully fund these packages to ensure that cardholders can access quality cancer care at both government and empanelled private hospitals across the state,” he stressed.
The Minister highlighted that the inclusion of these packages bridges a crucial gap in the existing healthcare framework, making advanced treatments like specialised cancer injections and therapy accessible through the card system. He noted that the initiative builds upon the expansive Ayushman Bharat framework, which already features over 2,100 all-India treatment packages.
In addition to the cancer care announcement, Mahaling also shared that digital upgrades are underway to improve hospital services. “Medical shops and blood banks are being registered under the updated platform. Through the Arogya Shakti 2.0 mobile application, citizens can easily download their details and utilise features like ‘Scan and Share’ for seamless hospital check-ins,” Mahaling added.
Addressing seasonal health challenges during the media briefing, the Minister stated that the government is actively monitoring the spike in vector-borne diseases. A special review meeting was held to address the situation, with a heavy emphasis on the ‘Stop Diarrhoea Campaign’ running from June 25 to July 31, alongside dedicated awareness and control campaigns for dengue, malaria, and chikungunya across the state.
