The Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on June 12 announced that the state government would launch a new scheme which will provide health care assistance of Rs 5 lakh per family in government hospitals to around 3.5 crore people.

The chief minister announced that the "Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana" will be launched on August 15 and will provide health care benefits to around 3.5 crore people from over 70 lakh families in the state. A family would get the Rs 5 lakh cashless treatment in government hospital per annum.

Describing the new scheme as part of his government's commitment towards universal health coverage, Patnaik said: "Each and everyone visiting any government health institutions from district to sub-centre level, will be provided free of cost treatment at all the health service."

Stating that the Biju Swasthya Kalyan scheme is not an insurance, but an assurance to the people for a better health service, Patnaik said secondary and tertiary cashless health care assistance will be provided up to Rs 5 lakh per family per annum. The state government, under this scheme, will also provide Rs 500 to meet pick up and drop expense of pregnant women and infant admitted to government hospitals.

"Drop back assistance of Rs 500 will be provided to all pregnant women and infant who visit public health facilities," the chief minister said adding that this will benefit above 6.5 lakh pregnant women and sick children. The chief minister said the users fee now being collected from patients in government hospitals, would be stopped after implementation of the scheme from August 15.