Haryana: Free health check-up scheme launched, 26 lakh families to get benefits

Gurugram: President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday launched the Mukhya Mantri Swasthya Sarvekshan Yojna (MMSSY), the government scheme that will facilitate door-to-door health check-ups free of cost to families across the state.

Virtually inaugurating the scheme at an event in Kurukshetra, the President said: “I am glad that I got this opportunity to launch the health screening programme, which will provide free treatment for the antyodaya families in Haryana.”

MMSSY, which aims to facilitate health check-ups at least once every two years, is currently available for families with annual income of less than Rs 1.8 lakh.

The government had said it will be expanded gradually to all of the state’s population.

In Gurgaon, around 1.05 lakh families are eligible for MMSSY. Three facilities have been brought under the ambit of the scheme — Civil Hospital in Sector 10, and the Pataudi and Sohna government hospitals.

Soon, the Farrukhnagar government hospital and Polyclinic in Sector 31 will be added to the list.

“We will have five sites at Gurgaon where testing and screening will be carried out. Eventually, we will expand to 81 units,” said Dr Virender Yadav, chief medical officer, Gurgaon.

Across the state, around 26 lakh families are eligible to get free health check-ups and tests.

Initially, health workers — ANMs, ASHA, Anganwadi workers — will carry out a door-to-door drive to spread awareness about the scheme. They will collect samples for basic laboratory tests, and if a person needs further consultation, he/she will be referred to the nearest sub-divisional hospital. If the doctors diagnose a disease or ailment that can be treated at the available facility, they can write a prescription that can be reimbursed.

Health officials will collect information about family history of illnesses, immunization, and history of contact with tuberculosis patients as well. The drive will include mandatory screening for haemoglobin levels, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes and other blood markets.

Sonia Trikha, director general of health services in Haryana, said, “In the first phase, the scheme will be available in 32 centres in Haryana. It will be expanded to 2,000 health care units gradually.”