Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today issued stern directions to authorities concerned to blacklist such hospitals, which were violating the norms of Bhagat Puram Singh Sehat Bima Yojana by showing reluctance in extending requisite treatment to patients covered under this prestigious scheme.The Chief Minister took this decision during a high level meeting of senior officers of Health Department at his residence, which was convened to take stock of the Scheme. Mr. Badal asked Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare to evaluate the functioning of empanelled hospital as yet under this Scheme besides initiating the process of removal from the list against those hospitals flouting the norms vis-à-vis not extending requisite treatment. The Chief Minister said that this scheme had provided a cashless treatment to beneficiaries to the extent of Rs. 50000 and if any hospital was not following the norms that would not be spared at any cost. He said that it was the duty of every empanelled hospital to provide instant and needful treatment to patients. He also asked to disseminate information regarding empanelled hospitals to the grass root level so that 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. He said that they had started this scheme with a sole purpose of providing cashless healthcare in nearby hospitals of residences of beneficiaries since there was a broad list of empanelled hospitals situated in every nook and corner of Punjab. He said that besides cashless treatment to the extent of Rs. 50000 and an insurance of Rs.5 lac in case of accidental death or incapacitation of head of family
Principal Secretary Health 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 7 lakh cards. She said that Department had also started a toll free 24X7 helpline 104 for the facilitation of beneficiaries and in case of any difficulty beneficiaries could make a call.It was also informed in the meeting that 7 lakh farmers had been registered under this scheme and the smart cards of 3 lakh farmers were ready to deliver. She said that after the harvesting season of wheat the remaining cards would be made.The Chief Minister also emphasized the need to cover the Vegetable growers and Cane Producers under Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Bima Yojana since only J-Farm holder farmers were being covered under this scheme. It was also informed in the meeting that as many as 11 lakh farmers families would be benefitted from this scheme.The Chief Minister also asked his Special Principal Secretary Mr. S. Karuna Raju to prepare a complete database of beneficiaries including their mobile numbers so that randomly feedback could be taken in future.Prominent amongst those who were present in the meeting including Principal Secretary Health & Family Welfare Mrs. Vinni Mahajan, Principal Secretary to CM Mr. SK Sandhu, Special Principal Secretaries to CM Mr. Gaggandeep Singh Brar and Dr. SK Raju, Secretary Health Mr. Husan Lal, Secretary Punjab Mandi Board Mr. TPS Sidhu and Director Information & Public Relations Mrs. Senu Duggal.