Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday claimed that the State’s health insurance scheme was much better than the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat programme, brushing aside criticism from Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Odisha has adopted its own health health insurance scheme — the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana, named after legendary leader Biju Patnaik — in place of the Central programme which was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 23. The BSKY was launched on August 15.

Mr. Patnaik’s assertions came a day after Mr. Pradhan had termed as “misleading” the Chief Minister’s claim that one crore cases were registered under the BSKY within 60 days of its launch.

“The Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana is a historic step since both the BPL [Below Poverty Line] and APL [Above Poverty Line] people will get health benefits under the scheme. It is way better than Ayushman Bharat,” the Chief Minister said while addressing a function to mark the ruling Biju Janata Dal’s “Padayatra” here.

The BJD had launched the “Jansampark Padayatra” on October 2 across the State.

After a review of the BSKY, Mr. Patnaik had on Saturday said the scheme had benefitted over one crore people within 60 days of its launch.

Misleading, says Minister

Mr. Pradhan, the Union Petroleum Minister, had challenged the Chief Minister’s claim on Tuesday. “How come one crore cases were registered under the BSKY within 60 days when the total number of people visiting government hospitals in a year is much less than one crore?” he had said.

Odisha’s adoption of a different health insurance scheme has triggered a war of words between the BJD and the BJP ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election, which would coincide with the State Assembly polls.

Talking about the BSKY, Mr. Patnaik said people irrespective of their economic status will be benefitted under the scheme.

Ridiculing the Centre’s Ayushman Bharat programme, he said, “Does any disease see poor or rich before affecting a person? Those not in the BPL category will also get benefits under BSKY.”

“The State government is there for those in the BPL as well as in the APL category,” Mr. Patnaik added.