BHUBANESWAR: MPs from BJP Odisha has called upon Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to put pressure on the Odisha government for adoption of Ayushman Bharat scheme in the state.

Three Union Ministers, Dharmendra Pradhan, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Bishweswar Tudu, led a team of state BJP MPs who met Mandaviya in the capital and presented a memorandum outlining their demand.

The MPs said in their memo that almost all the states in the nation, regardless of party affiliation, make use of the federal government's health programme to assist the populace, with the exception of Odisha and a small number of others.

They said that the state of Odisha's declining healthcare system and the absence of the Ayushman Bharat programme is a serious problem for Odia people both inside and outside the state.

Universal health coverage in Odisha remains sporadic on account of inequitable distribution of medical resources across the state.

The MPs said, obtaining healthcare services continues to be significantly hampered by poor rural healthcare infrastructure, huge voids in medical and paramedic staffing, and lack of testing facilities.

The state is suffering from a severe shortage of medical professionals and those working in administrative roles. They noted that the country's doctor and bed availability per capita is also among the lowest.

The BJP MPs added that Odisha's performance in terms of general health was ranked 14th out of 19 sizable states in 2019–20, placing it behind neighbouring states like Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.

The parliamentarians claimed that the state government's Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojna (BSKY) has limitations to meet the tertiary healthcare needs of the Odia people because it lacks pan-India portability and admissibility, a sufficient number of accredited hospitals, and a reliable and fraud-free claim settlement process.

Also, Odisha is prone to distress migration which forces about 33.45% of families in rural Odisha to migrate to other states looking for job. An estimated population of 1 crore Odias live outside the state for their livelihood, the MPs further explained.
The Odisha BJP MPs urged the Union Health Minister to press the government of Odisha to opt for the Ayushman Bharat scheme in the greater benefit of the people of Odisha, particularly the population of migrant workers, by stating that it is a game changer and an opportunity to assist the needy.

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