Acting tough, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday issued stern directions to the authorities concerned to blacklist hospitals violating norms of Bhagat Puram Singh Sehat Bima Yojana by showing reluctance in extending requisite treatment to patients covered under the Government’s ambitious scheme.
During a high level meeting of senior health officials to take stock of the scheme, Badal asked Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Vinni Mahajan to evaluate the functioning of empanelled hospital as yet under this scheme.
Besides, he has asked to initiate the process of removal from list against those hospitals flouting the norms vis-à-vis not extending requisite treatment.
“This scheme has provided a cashless treatment to beneficiaries to the extent of `50,000 and if any hospital was not following the norms, it would not be spared at any cost,” Badal made it clear.
He said that it was the duty of every empanelled hospital to provide instant and needful treatment to the patients.
Chief Minister asked to disseminate information regarding empanelled hospitals to the grassroot level so that the beneficiaries could finalise the selection of hospital as per their suitability.
Badal also informed that Punjab was the first state, which had been introduced Cashless Health Insurance Scheme under Bhagat Puran Singh Bima Yojana for blue card holders, farmers, traders, employees and pensioners.
Chief Minister also emphasized the need to cover vegetable growers and cane producers under the scheme.
Mahajan informed the Chief Minister that smart card under this scheme had been distributed to 22 lakh blue card beneficiaries in the state while the process was on to distribute remaining seven lakh cards.
“The Department has also started a 24X7 toll free helpline 104 for the facilitation of beneficiaries and in case of any difficulty beneficiaries could make a call,” she said.