By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR: Union PNG-Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday wrote to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik seeking his personal intervention to implement National Digital Health Mission and Ayushman Bharat in Odisha.“As it will benefit more than 60 lakhs poor in the State, I am requesting you to look into it and take steps for its implementations,” Pradhan wrote.
Ayushman Bharat Yojana (ABY) was implemented by the Centre on September 23, 2018. However, Odisha government refused to implement the scheme in the State; instead, it introduced another health scheme in the State – Biju Swaysthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY).
Odisha government had asked for two changes in the provision of the Centre’s health scheme before implementing it in the State. The State had demanded not to make Aadhaar card mandatory for getting treatment under PMJAY and to increase the number of beneficiaries from 62 lakh to 70 lakh.
In his Independence Day speech this year, Prime Minister Modi had announced the launch of the National Digital Health Mission scheme, which gives health cards to every Indian, with immediate effect.
