BJD Slams Odisha Govt Over Health Insurance Scheme; Seeks Details On GJAY

Bhubneswar: With the Centre launching the expanded Ayushman Bharat to cover people aged 70 years and above, opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Tuesday lashed out at the Odisha government over the health insurance scheme in the state.

Senior BJD leader and party’s chief whip in the Assembly Pramila Mallik hit out at the BJP government for replacing Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) with Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana (GJAY).

As per the Health Minister, 36 lakh people from state’s GJAY will be included in Ayushman Bharat scheme, she said, adding that the previous Naveen Patnaik government had lanced BSKY for providing quality healthcare facilities to the poor.

While people are still being benefitted from BSKY, the new GJAY introduced by the BJP government is yet to take off, Mallik said, and wondered as to what will happen to the rest after 36 lakh beneficiaries are included in Ayushman Bharat scheme.

Claiming that 95 lakh poor people were getting benefits under BSKY, she accused the BJP government of trying to use GJAY for political purpose for the benefit of party workers.

The BJD leader further alleged that the Mohan Majhi government is yet to share details about GJAY. People are confused as they do not know whether free medical treatment facilities will be provided under the new scheme or they have to bear the expenses and get the money reimbursed later, she said.

Asking the state government to refrain from politicising health insurance scheme, Mallik said people have now realised that the BJP regime has failed to safeguard their interest.