Haryana CM announces fiscal help for BPL patients

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 5

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today announced to give medical assistance to BPL families so that the poor do not lose their life because of financial issues during this pandemic.

The CM told the media the state government would provide Rs 5,000 to every patient per day (maximum seven days) belonging to BPL category admitted to private hospitals and were on oxygen or ICU support.

Besides, private hospitals would also be given an incentive of Rs 1,000 per patient per day or up to a maximum of Rs 7,000 for giving admission preference to Covid patients belonging to Haryana, announced the CM.

But mum on covid deaths

At least 23 patients have died allegedly due to lack of oxygen but CM Manohar Lal Khattar prefers to keep mum. During a media interaction in Chandigarh on Wednesday, he was at pains to explain that there was no shortage of oxygen yet he preferred to remain silent on the deaths due to oxygen shortage. A written query on the data on the deaths failed to elicit any response from the CM.

Khattar also announced that the Haryana Government would also pay Rs 5,000 each to Covid patients belonging to BPL category under home isolation for purchase of medicines and other articles like oximeter.

Khattar said the rates of beds and other facilities had been fixed for Covid patients undergoing treatment in private hospitals of the state.

On state Congress president Kumari Selja’s alleging state government’s “complete failure” to tackle the Covid crisis and her demand for calling an all-party meeting, Khattar asked her not to politicise the issue.

To a question on vaccine shortage, Khattar asserted that out of three lakh doses allotted to the state for 18-44 age category, around 1.75 lakh doses had been administered.