BJP MPs urge Odisha govt to implement Ayushman Bharat

Bharatiya Janata Party MPs from Odisha on Monday urged the state government to implement the Centre's Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) scheme.

In a letter addressed to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, 12 MPs of the saffron party, said that Odisha will gain from the scheme as it allows for a nationwide portability through which a large number of migrant workers can avail healthcare facilities anywhere in the country.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Odisha five times in the past nine months and never missed an opportunity to seek your support in enrolling Odisha for reaping the benefits of Ayushman Bharat programme," the MPs said in the letter.

The party has been seeking implementation of the Ayushman Bharat scheme keeping in mind the healthcare challenges in the state, the BJP MPs said.

"In the past weeks, we were encouraged to learn of the state government's reconsideration for implementation of the AB-PMJAY," the letter read.

Odisha government would not face any financial crunch as the collective efforts between the Centre and the state will ensure the funding of the flagship scheme, it added.

"In order to keep the spirit of co-operative federalism at the helm of democracy, we feel privileged to request you to adopt and implement the AB-PMJY scheme across Odisha thereby helping India progressively achieve Universal Health Coverage," the MPs wrote in the letter.

Ayushman Bharat, which seeks to cover 50 crore beneficiaries, provides coverage upto Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization.

Odisha was among the few states like Delhi, Telengana and West Bengal to opt out of the Ayushman Bharat scheme.

Odisha government has rolled out its own Biju Swastya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY), that covers around 70 lakh families in the state.

The provisions of the BSKY provide annual health coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family and Rs 10 lakh for the women members of the family.