All BJP MPs of the State on Monday urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to implement the Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) scheme in the State.

In a letter, the MPs told the Chief Minister that about 60 lakh people of the State would get free health services up to Rs 5 lakh if the Ayushman Bharat scheme is implemented.

They informed that 50 crore beneficiaries in the country, including 60 lakh of Odisha, have been chosen on the basis of Socioeconomic and Caste Census. Girl

children, women and senior citizens are being prioritised in the scheme.

They further mentioned that while many private hospitals have been included under the scheme, beneficiaries can get health benefits instantly without paying any fee. Migrant workers, who are working in other States, would also get such benefits, they said.

The MPs said PM Narendra Modi visited Odisha five times during the last nine months during he always sought the State Government’s support for implementation of the Central scheme.

During his visit to the State on June 3, AB-PMJAY chief Dr Indu Bhushan also discussed about the scheme with the Health Minister and the Chief Secretary and urged them to implement the scheme.

“Since inception of the scheme, we have constantly sought your support

for implementation of the scheme keeping in mind the acute public health challenges in the State. Odisha will not face any financial burden

as the Union Government will bear all costs. Kindly, implement the Ayushman Bharat scheme for achieving Sushtha Bharat and Sushta Odisha,” the letter read.

Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Pratap Sarangi, Lok Sabha members Nitesh Gangdeb, Sangita Singh Deo, Bisheswar Tudu, Suresh Pujari, Jual Oram and Aparajita Sarangi and Rajya Sabha member Awhini Vaishnaw signed the letter.