The large number of health cards returned back by ASHA workers in the Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana (MSBY) has exposed gross irregularities in the preparation of the cards.Sources said ASHA workers have so far returned 13,61,107 health cards citing various anomalies in them. However, the ambitious scheme of the State Government aimed to provide universal health cover was becoming popular with people as 9,598 patients have applied for the claims amounting to Rs5.10 crore in the State till date.
Sources further informed that the Medical Health and Family Welfare department which was entrusted with making of cards was now concentrating to make necessary amendments in the cards with the help of Third Party Administrator (TPA) of the insurance company.State head of TPA ‘Med Save Health Care’ Sanjay Kaul told The Pioneer that the process of necessary correction in the cards would be completed in next 15 days. “All recalled cards are not needed to be prepared again as big portion of them are of ineligible persons. We are weeding out the cards, asking ASHAs to verify the photo and other details before making them again,” Kaul said.
An ASHA worker disclosed that cards were having so many mistakes like wrong names, incorrect address, and wrong photograph. “We are facing the people in field, they are asking us to give the cards or return the registration fee of Rs30; further the Government has not provided us Rs100 per card as promised,” the worker complained.The department data revealed that a total of 940,418 cards were made and 870,063 were found fit for delivery to Ashas. The Ashas have distributed 662,766 and returned 136,1107. While talking to The Pioneer, the Director General (DG) of State Health Services Dr RP Bhatt accepted that large number of returned cards was a cause of concern. He, however, maintained the scheme was on track with excellent coordination between the department, insurance company and TPA.