The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, FEB 13, 2024
Odisha’s Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY), the flagship healthcare scheme spearheaded by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has been honored with the prestigious SKOCH Gold Award for the year 2023.
Dr. D. Brundha, Chief Executive Officer of the State Health Assurance Society (SHAS), accompanied by the Additional Secretary of the Health & Family Welfare Department and Joint CEO of SHAS, Subhananda Mohapatra, received the award from SKOCH Chairman Sameer Kochhar at a ceremony held in New Delhi on Saturday evening. The event was attended by numerous dignitaries of national and international acclaim.
BSKY clinched the national award in the healthcare sector owing to its innovativeness, inclusivity, transparency, and effectiveness. The scheme has made significant strides in transforming the universal healthcare landscape of Odisha. Under BSKY Component-1, all 119.8 lakh families in Odisha, comprising approximately 4.79 crore individuals, are entitled to free universal treatment at all government health facilities, including high-end pathological tests. Additionally, BSKY Component-2 extends coverage to 99.3 lakh economically vulnerable families, encompassing around 3.56 crore members, for cashless treatment at empaneled hospitals both within and outside the state. Notably, 816 private sector super-specialty hospitals from 17 states, including Odisha, have been enlisted under BSKY, providing cashless treatment to all BSKY/ration card holders from Odisha. Swasthy Mitras, support staff under BSKY, are stationed at empaneled hospitals to provide assistance to BSKY cardholder patients.
The scheme boasts a comprehensive and well-structured IT framework, ensuring its dynamism and adaptability to cater to the evolving health needs of the people of Odisha.
Shalini Pandit, Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department, commended the entire BSKY team and urged them to continue their commendable efforts in serving the people with utmost care and diligence round the clock.
This marks the second occasion that BSKY has been bestowed with the SKOCH Gold Award, having previously received the accolade in 2019.
