Bhubaneswar: Amid confusion over the validity of the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) health card in Odisha after the victory of the BJP in the Assembly Elections, State Health Department Secretary Shalini Pandit today clarified that the scheme will continue.

The scheme continues providing services as before, the official said.

The Information & Public Relations Department also issued a clarification in this regard.

"It has been clarified that the BSKY remains active, with approved budgetary support. Hospitals are to continue treatment to beneficiaries as before. All claims raised by hospitals will be paid by SHAS as before," it said.

"Hospitals are to ensure that patients do not face any difficulty or disruption in availing services," it added.

Worth mentioning, the BSKY was launched by the BJD government.

Notably, Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal had yesterday said that BSKY will be discontinued in Odisha while Central Government's Ayushman Bharat scheme will be introduced after formation of BJP government in the state.

There were reports of private hospitals not accepting the BSKY health cards of patients in the state.

Samal later issued a statement saying that it is a social crime to stop people from availing healthcare services under the BSKY.