Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal today launched the ambitious Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojna in the district on the birthday anniversary of former Prime Minister of India, late Rajiv Gandhi. He said that this scheme provides quality and free health services to the people living Below Poverty Line. Addressing a district level function organized at the local civil hospital, Badal said that Punjab Government has launched this scheme while keeping in view of the economic status of the people.The Finance Minister said that 43.08 lakh families are included under this scheme across the state. They will get annual cashless treatment of up to Rs. 5 lakhs. Around 450 government and private hospitals will help in providing them cashless treatment.Further highlighting the scheme he said that 1396 packages of different surgeries and surgeries in multi-specialist hospitals are also included under this scheme. There will be no limit to the number, age or gender of the family member under this scheme. He also said that helpline number 104 has also been issued for this scheme wherein people may get the telephonic facility to know about this scheme round the clock.
Keeping in view the interests of the journalist community the state government has provided this facility to the accredited and yellow card holders under this scheme. He also said that under this scheme an annual cashless treatment of up to Rs 5 lakh would be provided to the journalists. He also informed that under this scheme more than 5 lakh e-card numbers are released in the state past just 20 days with the aim of providing health services to people in need.Finance Minister said that under this scheme, 200 'Ayushman Mitra' have also been added to provide help to the patients visiting under this scheme in different hospitals. He also informed that no eligible beneficiary will be denied cashless treatment under this scheme. During emergencies if someone is not carrying his/her e-card even then the hospital would cross-check the name of the person in the hospital's list and would provide them free treatment.The Finance Minister also urged the farmers not to burn the stubble this year in view of the people visiting Punjab from across the globe during the 550th Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.Among others who were also present during the occasion included SDM Amarinder Singh Tiwana, Civil Surgeon Amreek Singh Sandhu, Congress District Urban President Arun Wadhawan, Congress leaders Rajan Garg, Ashok Pardhan, Mohan Lal Jhumba, Master Harmandar Singh, Rajinder Sidhu, DSP City Gurjeet Singh Romana and others.