Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday announced that his government is to provide Smart Health Cards to 3.5 crore people in the state under Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana. It was announced on the occasion of 75th Independence Day.  The Chief Minister said the initiative will usher in a new era in the state's health sector and transform the health service delivery system of the country.

In an emotional note, the Chief Minister said, “All the people of the entire Odisha are my family. The news of people selling land, jewellery or stop sending children to school to manage their treatment costs pains me. Therefore I decided that this type of distress must go.”

The CM went on to say: “News like people selling land and valuables or dropping their children out of schools to manage their treatment costs pains me. Hence, I have decided to take away such distress and provide hassle-free treatment to people at best available health care facilities”. Hence, Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana was redesigned to provide Smart Health Cards to people that will work as debit cards for a certain amount,” he said, adding that “It will go a long way in strengthening health security of people of Odisha”.

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