Bhubaneswar: Over 6.31 lakh people from poor families were given cashless treatment in Odisha under the state government’s universal health programme Biju Swasthy Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) during 2022.
The state government paid around Rs 1389 crore to the empanelled private sector hospitals towards cost of treatment of the beneficiaries during the year so far.
This was revealed during a performance review meeting by Health and Family Welfare Secretary Shalini Pandit, an official release said.
The review showed that over 6.31 lakh persons from poor families having either BSKY smart card or PDS card were provided with high quality clinical treatment in different specialty hospitals under private sector free of cost up to December 25.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of State Health Assurance Society Dr Brundha D informed the meeting that these patients were from all 30 districts of the state. Cent percent of the patients coming to hospitals with BSKY eligibility were counselled through telephonic call.
The patients were also provided handholding support by the Swasthya Mitras engaged by state in these hospitals. These patients were treated through either of the total number of 2056 clinical packages provided through BSKY. The problems and grievances relating use of cards, cashless treatment etc were immediately attended to and resolved in a time bound manner keeping in view emergency requirement of the patients, the release said.
The Health Secretary directed the officials to intensify IEC and awareness building activities on BSKY in remote rural areas of Gajapati, Kandhamal, Sonepur, Nuapada, Rayagada, Nabrangpur, Koraput and Malkangiri districts so that people get required information and assistance for high quality clinical care.
Discussions in the meeting showed the patients or their attendants could make pre-contact with toll free number 104 for treatment in any of the empanelled hospitals of their choice. They could get their BSKY card related problems resolved through telephonic call to 155369.
People could also communicate their need and grievances through toll free number 14545, Twitter account @bskyodisha and Facebook account bskyodisha.
The Secretary stressed on creation of wide awareness among the people about the facilities provided under BSKY. District Coordinators and Swasthya Mitras were asked to handhold the people with missionary spirit, it added.
