Bhubaneswar: As some private hospitals started denying admission of patients under BSKY scheme in the wake of change in Government in the State, Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena promptly came on action and warned of stringent action if any empanelled hospital deny service to BSKY beneficiaries.
In a video message, the Chief Secretary on Thursday made it clear that Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) is very much active in the State. The scheme will continue unless the new government takes a decision on it and till then empanelled private hospitals have to provide service to the BSKY beneficiaries.
All the empanelled hospitals cannot deny treatment or discharge a patient prematurely. If an empanelled hospital denies service, people can complain on Health Department’s helpline number 104. After getting a complaint, the Government will take stringent action against the hospital, he said.
“Even if the new Government comes with some other scheme, patients will not face any problem during the transition phase. There should be no doubts in the minds of people,” the CS said.
Earlier, Health and Family Welfare Secretary Shalini Pandit had also clarified that the scheme has not been withdrawn.
As per available data, on 4 June, empanelled hospitals booked treatment packages for more than 5800 patients. Similarly, on June 5, treatment packages were booked for more than 5389 patients by empanelled hospitals.
The MOUs on BSKY signed with empanelled hospitals remain in force. BSKY card holders are advised not to panic and remain in confusion about BSKY, she said.
Government has directed all empanelled hospitals to continue the treatment as before, she added.
This message from the government assumes significance as some hospitals were allegedly denying service under the scheme after State BJP President Manmohan Samal had declared that BSKY will be replaced by Centre’s Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).