Free health services under BSKY to be extended to all medical

The Odisha government Thursday announced extension of free health services under the state's flagship health scheme the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) to all state run medical college and hospitals.

The announcement was made by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. As per the new decision, the provision of universal free health services will be extended up to all government medical college and hospitals from February 1.

All patients, irrespective of APL or BPL category, will avail this facility. Besides, all patients will also avail Blood Bank facility free of cost, he said.

Previously, the free treatment facilities for all were available from Sub-Centres at village level up to the District Headquarters Hospital level, but not in medical colleges.

Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana was launched on August 15, 2018 and in the next five months since, the scheme has received an overwhelming response, with over 2.25 crore instances of free healthcare availed by the people of Odisha, he