Around 30 Lakh people would be covered under the New Pension Scheme. Every single person living under poverty line would be covered with free health insurance. It was disclosed by Brahm Mohindra, Health and Family Welfare Minister while chairing the Civil Surgeons’ conference organized at DHS office, Sector 34-A, Chandigarh. He issued instructions to the Civil Surgeons to make foolproof arrangements to implement this flagship health scheme so that needy persons could reap full benefits from it.The Health Minister said that under National Health Protection Scheme ‘Ayushman Diwas’ would be celebrated in the state on April 30. He said on the same day Gram Sabha Diwas would also be observed in Panchayat Ghars under the chairmanship of Panchayat Secretaries. During this S.E.C.C-2011 list would be displayed before the village gathering. He said that names of such persons be entered into this list on the spot, whose names are missing. Brahm Mohindra directed the Civil Surgeons to make the entries in their record of such persons who are living under poverty line for the purpose of extending insurance cover to them. He said that the Civil Surgeons could take help of Gram Panchayats for this work. Under this insurance cover, medical treatment worth Rs. 50 thousand per year to 5 members of a family be provided, which may extend upto Rs. 5 lakh under emergency situation.
Health and Family Welfare Minister said that the time line of Bhagat Puran Singh Health Insurance Scheme in the state has been extended till 31 October, 2018. He instructed the civil surgeons to ensure that people may not feel any hindrance in getting medical treatement and also to settle the medical claims of their respective hospitals. Anjali Bhawra, Principal Secretary, Health and Family welfare department said that the measles-Rubela vaccination campaign would be commenced from Patiala on 15 April. She said that this campaign would be executed in Punjab till 23 April. She categorically instructed the civil surgeons to ensure that the children of the age of 9 month to 15 years studying in Anganwari centers be covered under this vaccination campaign, although they have been vaccinated earlier for measles.Varun Roozam, Special Secretary cum Mission Director National Health Mission instructed the Civil Surgeons to leave no stone unturned for making Punjab TB free till 2025. He also directed the civil surgeons to link every TB patient with the Aadhar so that they may get Dietary supplements through DBT. Teams of District Civil Hospital Pathankot and Sub-divisional Hospital Rajpura were also felicitated for completing all Benchmarks under Nationa Quality Insurance Scheme. Mr. B Srinivasan, Additional Secretary Health, Dr. Jaspal Kaur Director, Health Services, Dr. Naresh Kansra, Director Family welfare and other senior officers of the Health Department were also present on this occasion.