No more free treatment of poor patients in Odisha hospitals under OSTF

Bhubaneswar:  Odisha Government has decided to discontinue treatment assistance to poor patients under Odisha State Treatment Fund (OSTF) in hospitals  across the state after July 31.

A decision to this effect was taken at the executive committee meeting of OSTF Society held on July 13.

In a letter to Medical Superintendent of Apollo Hospital, AMRI Hospital, Kalinga Hospital, Care Hospital and Hemalata Cancer Hospital, the Directorate of Medical Education and Training (DMET)  said no hospital in the state will be allowed to treat patients under OSTF after July 31. However, treatment of the poor patients under Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) will continue in the state.

“You are requested not to admit any patient under OSTF after July 31. Treatment of poor patients in the state will continue under BSKY which is an umbrella scheme covering OSTE assistance. Hence you are requested to empanel your hospital under BSKY to enable the poor patients to get their treatment under the state Government’s assistance,” the letter reads.

However, reimbursement claim for patients admitted under OSTF on or before July 31 will be allowed till their discharge from your hospital, said Director Dr CBK Mohanty.

Moreover, Dr Mohanty wrote to several Government hospitals across the state for disengagement of DEOs engaged under OSTF after July 31.

The DMET Director wrote to Medical Superintendents of SCB in Cuttack, MKCG in  Berhampur, VIMSAR in Burla, FM MCH in  Balasore, PRM MCH in Baripada, Directors of  Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar and AHRCC in Cuttack  and Chief District Medical and Public Health Officers of Balasore, Mayurbhanj,Sundargarh,Khodha and Puri.

“You are requested to take steps to disengage the DEOs engaged through outsourcing agency under OSTF scheme at the earliest as implementation of OSTF in the state has been taken over by State Health Assurance Society (SHAS) through BSKY scheme. Further works managed by the DEOs will be done by local arrangement at your level,”  said Mohanty in the letter.