Punjab to launch flagship health scheme from July 1

Chandigarh: Finally, Punjab Government is going to launch its flagship universal health insurance scheme Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana from July 1. The health scheme will provide annual health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family to 43.18 lakh families. A total of 364 private hospitals across the state have been empanelled, where the beneficiaries can get secondary and tertiary care treatment.

Punjab health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu held a meeting with the consultative group of universal health insurance scheme. Of 43.18 lakh families, 14.86 lakh are Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna families, 20.48 lakh other poor families possess blue cards, 7.84 lakh families are registered with various departments — 5 lakh farmers under Punjab Mandi Board, 46,000 families under excise and taxation department and 2.38 lakh construction workers registered with construction worker’s welfare board.

The health minister said that the state government had already prepared the database of 43.18 lakh beneficiaries. He said that all public hospitals above community health centres level are empanelled to provide secondary and tertiary care treatment to the beneficiaries. He said that around 400 hundred private hospitals in Punjab have applied for empanelment, which is under process. He said that these private hospitals would be empanelled in the state for this scheme.

Balbir Singh Sidhu said that the cost of the premium for 14.86 lakh families covered under PMJAY would be borne by the Union and the state governments in 60:40 ratio whereas for the rest of beneficiaries all cost would be borne by the state government.