In a visionary move set to benefit nearly 90% of Odisha’s population, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik introduced the third phase of the highly successful health assurance scheme, Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY). The expanded initiative, now named BSKY Nabin, aims to provide comprehensive health coverage, bringing a significant portion of the state’s residents under its umbrella, excluding only regular government employees and income taxpayers.
The ‘Nabin’ card, a key component of BSKY Nabin, promises cashless care in private hospitals for critical ailments. With this expansion, over 1.10 crore families, constituting almost 90% of the state’s population, will be encompassed by BSKY, ensuring financial protection against identified critical illnesses. Eligible beneficiaries will enjoy cashless coverage of Rs 5 lakh per annum, with the provision extending to Rs 10 lakh for women members of a family. This coverage applies to empanelled private hospitals both within and outside the state.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik emphasized the holistic goal of creating a healthy and happy Odisha (Sustha Odisha, Sukhi Odisha) as the driving force behind health sector interventions in the state. The expanded scheme reflects a commitment to universal health coverage, ensuring that no family in Odisha remains vulnerable due to financial constraints when faced with high expenditures on critical illnesses.
Expressing his vision for universal health coverage in Odisha, where healthcare is a right accessible and affordable to all, Naveen Patnaik highlighted the success of BSKY in revolutionizing health assurance in the state. The first phase of BSKY introduced free-of-cost services in public health facilities for all residents, while the second phase facilitated cashless healthcare in private hospitals.
Under the scheme, over 45 lakh people receive free healthcare at public facilities every month, with an additional 1.3 lakh individuals benefitting from cashless care in private hospitals, amounting to Rs 260 crore monthly in empanelled private healthcare institutions. Over the past five years, BSKY has provided nearly 21 lakh patients with cashless healthcare, totaling around Rs 4,500 crore in private hospitals alone.
The ‘Nabin’ BSKY initiative marks a significant stride toward achieving the Chief Minister’s dream of universal health coverage, solidifying Odisha’s commitment to prioritizing the well-being of its citizens.**
Prasanta Patnaik