GOVT DECIDES TO ISSUE 5,000 SMART CARDS DAILY
Chandigarh September 11:
Punjab government has intensified its efforts of distributing health insurance smart cards to families living below poverty line (BPL).
While impoverished people in Patiala, Ferozepur and Gurdaspur have started availing the services, a decision has been taken to distribute 5,000 cards in a day in the state with Sangrur set to get its share from October 1.
In a review meeting with the director general Anil Swaroop, who was here from New Delhi to take stock of the progress, it was reinforced that nearly two lakh families will get their cards in the first phase of the project. Swaroop is believed to have asked the government to step up its efforts and remove the technical glitches, which are slowing down the project.
"Out of nearly 4.14 lakh families about two lakh will get their cards in the first phase." Admitting that there are technical problems like unavailabilty of electricity in rural areas, scarcity of hardware, print material that is delaying the distribution, Sarangal said that efforts are on to streamline the process.
The smart cards will provide succor to over four lakh families living below the poverty line in the state who, as of now, consider suffering as the only way to deal with any disease. Extensive studies have indicated that impoverished people, living in unsanitary conditions amid squalor, are highly malnourished and consequently more likely to pick up infections and diseases.
The beneficiaries will be issued a smart card that will carry all the information about their family, medical history besides the unique card number. "The patient will have a list of nominated hospitals to choose from where he can go and produce the smart card to seek absolutely cashless treatment ," said Sarangal.
One family, with BPL status, will have access to medical services worth Rs 30,000 in a year's time. "We would be paying Rs 561 per family to the national insurance company and the state government is contributing about 30% funds for the insurance policy," said Sarangal. Each individual being covered will also have to contribute Rs 30 towards the insurance scheme.
Haryana has already launched the insurance scheme in April beginning with four districts. Four more will be taken up through the year. Among the states, Punjab has the lowest incidence of poverty, 6.16% as per 1999-2000 figures, followed by Haryana with 8.74% and Kerala with 12.72%.
Chandigarh September 11:
Punjab government has intensified its efforts of distributing health insurance smart cards to families living below poverty line (BPL).
While impoverished people in Patiala, Ferozepur and Gurdaspur have started availing the services, a decision has been taken to distribute 5,000 cards in a day in the state with Sangrur set to get its share from October 1.
In a review meeting with the director general Anil Swaroop, who was here from New Delhi to take stock of the progress, it was reinforced that nearly two lakh families will get their cards in the first phase of the project. Swaroop is believed to have asked the government to step up its efforts and remove the technical glitches, which are slowing down the project.
"Out of nearly 4.14 lakh families about two lakh will get their cards in the first phase." Admitting that there are technical problems like unavailabilty of electricity in rural areas, scarcity of hardware, print material that is delaying the distribution, Sarangal said that efforts are on to streamline the process.
The smart cards will provide succor to over four lakh families living below the poverty line in the state who, as of now, consider suffering as the only way to deal with any disease. Extensive studies have indicated that impoverished people, living in unsanitary conditions amid squalor, are highly malnourished and consequently more likely to pick up infections and diseases.
The beneficiaries will be issued a smart card that will carry all the information about their family, medical history besides the unique card number. "The patient will have a list of nominated hospitals to choose from where he can go and produce the smart card to seek absolutely cashless treatment ," said Sarangal.
One family, with BPL status, will have access to medical services worth Rs 30,000 in a year's time. "We would be paying Rs 561 per family to the national insurance company and the state government is contributing about 30% funds for the insurance policy," said Sarangal. Each individual being covered will also have to contribute Rs 30 towards the insurance scheme.
Haryana has already launched the insurance scheme in April beginning with four districts. Four more will be taken up through the year. Among the states, Punjab has the lowest incidence of poverty, 6.16% as per 1999-2000 figures, followed by Haryana with 8.74% and Kerala with 12.72%.
