Odisha Govt Warns Of Stringent Action If Empanelled Hospitals Deny Service To BSKY Beneficiaries

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Secretary P K Jena on Thursday made it clear that Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) is very much active in the state. The scheme will continue unless the new government takes a decision on it and till then empanelled private hospitals denying service will have to face the music, he said.

Jena said empanelled hospitals are providing services under the scheme and cannot deny treatment or discharge a patient prematurely. “BSKY will continue unless the new government takes any decision on the scheme. If an empanelled hospital denies service, people can complain on Health Department’s helpline number. Stringent action will be taken against the hospital,” he said.

The Chief Secretary’s message holds significance as some hospitals were allegedly denying service under the scheme after ruling BJD lost the elections to BJP on June 4. State BJP president Manmohan Samal had declared on Wednesday that BSKY will be replaced by Centre’s Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).

“Even if the new government comes with some other scheme, patients will not face any problem during the transition phase, There should be no doubts in minds of people,” Jena said.

Earlier, Health Secretary Shalini Pandit had also clarified that the scheme has not been withdrawn.

According to sources, 5,800 beneficiaries were provided treatment under the health scheme on June 4 while 5,349 were provided treatment on June 5 in different empanalled hospitals.

To complain against any empanelled hospital for denying treatment under BSYK, people can call on Health Department’s helpline number 104