Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board held its 57thMeeting at the Raj Bhavan here today under the chairmanship of Governor N. N. Vohra, who is Chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.The meeting was attended by Mrs. Sudha Murty, Dr. S. S. Bloeria, Dr. Ashok Bhan, Mr. H. L. Maini, Mr. Justice (Retd) Permod Kohli and Maj. Gen. (Retd) Shiv Kumar Sharma, all Board Members; Mr. Ajeet Kumar Sahu, Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Piyush Singla and Dr. M. K. Kumar, Additional CEOs of the Shrine Board. Prior to its meeting the Board held discussions withDr. Devi Prasad Shetty, Chairman, Narayana Health, Narayana Institute of Cardiac Sciences, Bangalore, regarding issues relating to the Super Speciality Hospital which is being inaugurated by the Prime Minister on 19th April at Kakryal.At the outset, the Governor complimented the Board Members and all others who have remained associated with the establishment of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital at Kakryal which is being inaugurated by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi tomorrow. He lauded their commitment and valuable contributions in the completion of this flagship project of the Shrine Board.
The Chairman and the Board Members expressed their gratitude to the Prime Minister for taking time out of his busy schedule to inaugurate the Hospital and the Shrine Board’s Sports Complex set up at Katra. The meeting reviewed all aspects of the functioning of the Superspeciality Hospital and hoped that with state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment equipment, superspecialist doctors, trained nurses and paramedics and the best possible infrastructure and logistics, this Hospital is would develop as an institution of excellence and emerge as a brand name in providing high quality tertiary health care at an affordable prices.Prior to taking up Agenda of the meeting, the Board Members held a detailed discussion with Dr. Shetty related to various issues for operationalising the Superspeciality Hospital. The Members hoped that by using the vast experience of his Group in the medical care sector Dr. Shetty will ensure providing par excellence services, as per expectations of the people of the region.The meeting, in a historic decision, approved the Shrine Board’s Medical Support Policy to provide concessional medical treatment to certain specified categories of patients at the Superspeciality Hospital, Kakryal.
The salient features of this Policy are:
i) If a pilgrim, while undertaking Yatra of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, requires any medical intervention,will be given free consultation and treatment, OPD as well as IPD. In the case of any pre-existing ailments, free treatment will be provided till stabilisation of the patient.
ii)Theresidents of four surrounding villages of the Hospital (including land owners’ families who have parted with their lands for the establishment of both Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University and the Hospital) will be given free OPD treatment in the Superspeciality Hospital. These villages are Sira, Kakryal, Kotla and Sool.
iii) In the case of land owners (together with their spouses), who have parted with their lands for the establishment of both Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University and the Hospital, the Board shall provide an Insurance Policy to cover their indoor treatment. The premium of the policy is being borne by the Board. This will ensure cashless treatment to the landowners (with spouses) in any of the empanelled hospitals of the Insurance Company upto Rs. one lakh.
iii) For the employees of the Shrine Board, SMVD Gurukul and SMVD College of Nursing, a Cashless Group Health Insurance Policy is being procured by the Board, at its cost, so that the facility becomes available to the staff/employees and their family members free of cost. The SMVD University authorities could consider putting in place an Insurance Policy for the employees of the University on the lines proposed to be made available to the employees of the Shrine Board. This Cashless Insurance Policy is similar in nature as applicable to the State Government Employees, covering IPD treatment upto Rs. 5 lakh in any of the empanelled hospitals of the Insurance Company throughout the country.
iv) OPD facility will be provided free to the employees of the Board/Gurukul/Nursing College and their family members.
v) Full cost on account of OPD and IPD treatment in respect of the Gurukul and Nursing College students, shall also be borne by the Board.
The financial implications of the proposed measures under this Medical Support Policy work out to about Rs. 350.96 lakh per annum.Apart from the above, cases relating to old aged patients, poor, needy and destitute who require free treatment will be received by the Hospital/Board authorities. The Shrine Board has approved a separate policy for provision of immediate and gratuitous relief (by way of medical treatment) as a goodwill measure for the local populace living farther away from the neighbouring villages. The Board approved provision being made to provide free services to such poor and needy people. The Board asked the SMVDU to work out separately the financial implications on account of benefits to the employees and students of the University on similar lines.