The Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Harish Rawat launched Phase II of the ‘Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana’ (MSBY) on Monday. The insurance cover under the ambitious health insurance scheme has now been increased to `1.75 lakh per annum from `50000.
Speaking on the occasion, Rawat said that the State Government would not let the paucity of funds become a hindrance for treatment of the people of the State. Referring to the limit of annual expense of `1.75 under the scheme, he said that if the expense of treatment is more than the State Government would provide money from Rajya Vyadhi Yojna (RVY) and Chief Minister’s relief fund.
To streamline the functioning of the scheme, Rawat directed the officials that every paneled hospital should have a felicitator and a MSBY monitor should be appointed in every district. He claimed that the MSBY is beneficial to people, Government and private hospitals as the State Government would spend a big amount on the scheme and many private hospitals would open centres in the mountainous areas of the State to get the benefit of the scheme. The CM exhorted the ASHA workers to launch a massive awareness campaign for the scheme.
The Health Minister of State, Surendra Singh Negi said that the MSBY is very important scheme of the State Government. He said that the Government is planning to conduct one surgical camp in every 25 days in every block.
Under the MSBY all persons who are do not pay income tax and are not Government employees are covered. Treatment of 1206 general and 459 critical diseases can be done under the scheme in 151 Government and private hospitals of the State. The secretary health Bhupender Kaur Olakh said that more than 11 lakh Above Poverty line (APl) and Below Poverty line (APl) families of the State are covered under the scheme.
She said that the card holders of Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY) would also be brought under the ambit of the scheme. The State Government has launched a campaign in the first fortnight of August to bring all eligible families under the scheme.
The State Government has also appointed an officer equivalent to the rank of Chief Medical Officer (CMO) as nodal officer for the scheme in every district. Anyone interested to know about the scheme can call on a toll free number 18001801200. The insurance cover would be provided by the Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company. President of the company, TA Ramalingam said that TPAs in all the districts have been appointed.
These TPAs would provide all help to the beneficiaries under the scheme. The launch ceremony was attended by Medical Education Minister Dinesh Dhanai, Additional Secretary Medical health Niraj Khairwal, Director General Health Dr Kusum Narriyal and others.