Nod for healthcare scheme, 1.50 lakh persons to benefit

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 30

The government today gave nod for implementation of the “Mukhya Mantri State Health Care Scheme” (MMSHCS) from this year which will benefit over 1.50 lakh persons, including single women and senior citizens who were not covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme.

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh here today. The Cabinet observed a two-minute silence to pay tributes to the departed soul of former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam. The Cabinet also gave nod for criterion and filling of 700 posts, including 523 in the Health Department.

The healthcare scheme will benefit 1.50 lakh beneficiaries, including ‘ekal naaris’, senior citizens above 80 years of age, anganwariworkers/helpers and mid-day meal workers, daily wage and part time workers, autonomous bodies, societies, rogi kalyan samities (RKS), boards and corporation who were not covered under Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna or any other medical reimbursement scheme.

A provision of Rs 12 crore has already been made for the scheme and the government will bear 100 per cent cost of treatment. Smarts cards will be activated from January 1, 2016 and the beneficiary can avail benefit till December 2020.

Virbhadra said that beneficiaries would be identified by the concerned departments and panchayat secretaries.

“The beneficiary would be eligible for coverage of financial costs of in-patient health care services and certain specified day-care procedures not requiring hospitalisation,” he elaborated.

He said there was a provision for reasonable pre and post-hospitalisation expenses for one day prior and five day after hospitalisation, besides provision for transport allowance in the scheme.

Cabinet also gave approval for construction of a mini-secretariat at Sujanpur Tira in Hamirpur by demolishing the sub-divisional office to house various offices under single roof.

The Cabinet gave approval for filing of 500 posts of paramedical staff in Health and Family Welfare Department by Rogi Kalyan Samiti either by direct recruitment, promotions or on batch wise basis.

The Cabinet also accorded approval to fill by direct recruitment 112 posts of Junior Engineer (civil). The Cabinet gave its approval to table the Himachal Pradesh Fruit Nurseries Registration and Regulation Bill 2015 in the ensuing Vidhan Sabha session.