State Govt will add 4 lakh more beneficiaries to SSBY: Balbir Singh Sidhu

More than 40 thousand people get free treatment under the scheme

5 Dariya News

Malout(Sri Muktsar Sahib) 02-Nov-2019

Health and Family Welfare Minister of Punjab, Balbir Singh Sidhu divulged that the government is providing cashless treatment up to 5 lack rupees per household per annum to the 46 lack families in the state under Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojna (SSBY) and we will cover 4 lack more families under the scheme soon.This was stated by the Health Minister while talking to journalists during his visit to the Civil Hospital in Malout today. He said that under the Health Insurance Scheme, over 40,000 people have already got treatment so far in the state. He appealed that beneficiaries of the scheme should get a registration card of the scheme from Common Service Centers, Government Hospitals or listed private hospitals so that they could get free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh under the scheme.Responding to another question, the Health Minister said that the state government was going to set up 2930 wellness health care centers (WHCC) out of which 800 have been already set up to ensure access to treatment facilities to the people. He said that Punjab would set all these WHCC by 2021 against the target of 2023. “Under this, the government has also appointed 519 Community Health Officers a few days back,” he added.

Likewise, the health minister said that the state government has offered higher pay for newly appointed doctors in the state hospitals based on their specialisation and station of posting. He further said that the implementation of the Clinic Establishment Act is under the consideration of the state government. It will also make it possible for people to get good and cheap health services through the private sector.Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu said on the occasion that 136 types of medicines were being provided free of cost by the state government in the government hospitals. He said that no shortage of medicines in the hospitals. He also spoke on the occasion that construction work of Malout Civil Hospital would be started soon.Responding to another query, Sidhu said that drive against adulteration in food item will continue on full swing even after the festival season. He said department also run a mobile food testing laboratory to curb adulteration and if any sample failed, immediate action would be possible.On this occasion, among others, S. Amanpreet Singh Bhatti, SDM. S. Gopal Singh, Civil Surgeon Dr. Navdeep Singh, Nathu Ram Gandhi, Master Jaspal Singh, Sarabjit Singh Kaka Brar, Bhupinder Singh Ramnagar, Balkar Singh Aulakh etc. were also present.