Punjab Health and Family Welfare and Labour Minister Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu today said that starting from 20 August, the ambitious 'Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana' would cover 48 lakhs families, out of total 62 lakh families, which becomes about 80 percent population of the state and health department staff is passionately working to achieve the target within stipulated time-frame.Addressing press conference here after presiding over a meeting of the district grievance redressal committee, he said that Fazilka is on first position in making the e-card under this coveted health insurance scheme. He categorically lauded the efforts of the Deputy Commissioner Mr. Manpreet Singh Chhatwal, and said that after completing the process of making e-card of eligible beneficiaries through public hospitals and Common Service Centres, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh will launch the scheme August 20 during state level Function.Highlighting the key features of the scheme, the Health Minister said that the state government has signed MoU with IFFCO-TOKYO insurance company. "80 percent of the state population will get financial & health security, protection from 1396 sickness at the rate of Rs.5 lakh per capita insurance and to ensure secondary tertiary level of health services", he said. Describing the shortcomings of the previous government's health scheme, he said that bargaining was at the peak at that time and the scheme was used to negotiate by the doctors of private hospitals, but under new scheme, there will not be such exploitage, rather people would get state-of-the-art facilities because 40 official-cum-executives have been appointed to manage the scheme under the State Health agency of department of Health & Family Welfare. Likewise, the insurance agency has established project offices and its State and District implementation units to facilitate the beneficiaries to claim insurance cover. He said that people could check the eligibility on the official website of Health department at www.shapunjab.in and 104 helpline is also providing the complete information pertaining to the first of its kind Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana by 24x7 days.
While discussing the issue pertaining to contamination sewer water flowing from neighbouring districts to Fazilka, the minister said that proposal could be sent to the government in case of the requirement of more experts for committee to redress the issue. He directed to swiftly resolve the problem of contaminated water. Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner informed that 8 MLD sewage treatment plant in Fazilka is of outdated technology. Health Minister gave his consent on the proposal of the Deputy Commissioner to utilize Municipal Council funds to build 13 MLD capacity new STP at Fazilka with the estimated cost of Rs.15.97 crore. He instructed that elected representatives of the people should be incorporated in district-level fund utilization committee.Health Minister particularly mentioned that after Fazilka, next week 'Saadi Rasoi' will come up at Jalalabad, which would be in everyone's reach being situated in the centre of the city near Government Girls College and as of now, 30 donors are working with the kitchen.Earlier, in the meeting, the Health Minister said that under most affected area policy, Fazilka would get more doctors. Appointment of new doctor and NHM staff recruitment had already been made and new staff will be given appointment letters in next few days, after which, doctors and other supportive staff would be deployed in the district. "Punjab government would likely adopt the policy next month of increasing the retirement age of the doctors from 58 to 65 years", he said, adding that the state government is also willing to pay up to 1.6 lakhs to expert doctors to ensure health facilities to the citizens.
Acting on a request made by the Jail department, Mr. Sidhu directed the civil surgeon to ensure the permanent deployment of a medical officer at sub jail Fazilka. He said that 108 ambulance services should be used to bring all the sick prisoners to hospital for treatment. On the issue of cane arrears to farmers, he said that he will soon bring the matter into the notice of the government. Deputy Commissioner apprised the minister that for the expansion of the grain markets in Fazilka and Jalalabad, 5 Panchayats of Fazilka and 6 of Jalalabad have agreed to give the panchayat land to the district administration, on which minister asked to pass the resolution from the concerned panchayats. He also took stock of the work of new bus stand, whose revised plan has been passed and construction started. Mr. Sidhu directed the Deputy Commissioner to monitor the cleaning of drains in Balluana assembly segment.During the meeting, the Minister also discussed other issues such as construction of new buildings for government offices in sub-division Jalalabad, leveling of burms along roads, potable water, sewage and traffic problem in Abohar, Bishnoi Memorial and setting up of one-stop Center in new district hospital etc. After the meeting, the Minister also listened to the problems of the citizens and directed the officers to resolve the problems on priority.Prominent amongst other, who were present in the meeting, included; MLA Balluana Mr. Nathu Ram, MLA Fazilka Mr. Davinder Singh Ghubaya, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Dr. R.P. Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Mr. Ranjit Singh, SP (H) Mr. Kuldeep Sharma, SDM Fazilka Mr. Subhash Khattak, SDM Jalalabad Mr. Keshav Goyal, SDM Abohar Ms. Poonam Singh, Tehsildar Fazilka Mr. D.P. Pandey, Civil Surgeon Dr. Daler Singh Multani, Congress District President Mr. Ranjam Kamra, Vice President Mr. Sukhwinder Singh Kaka Kamboj, Political Secretary to Health Minister Mr. Harkesh Chand Sharma Machhli Kalan, Congress leader Mr. Vimal Thathai and Mr. Gurjant Singh Chimnewala.