Government hospitals in Punjab to identify BPL cancer patients under treatment

Chandigarh, December 10, 2014:   The Health Minister Surjeet Kumar Jayani has asked to identify the Below Poverty line cancer patients undergoing treatment in the Government hospitals so that the amount required for the cancer patients could be made available from the State Illness Fund.

The decision to this effect was taken by the Minister today while presiding over the 10th Governing Body Meeting of Punjab Nirogi Society which was managing State Illness Fund in the State.   It may be mentioned that annual corpus of  Rs.20 crores has been  made available by the Punjab Government under the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for treatment of cancer patients out of which ? 1.5 lakhs is being made available for treatment to every cancer patient taking treatment in Government and in empanelled private hospitals. Under this corpus, so far Rs.211.00 crores has been disbursed to 18000 cancer patients.

Referring to the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna, the Minister said that The Government of India in collaboration with the state government has rolled out Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna for providing health benefits to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. The scheme entails providing cashless treatment up to Rs.30000 to a BPL family per annum. Under this scheme, the definition of BPL family is a unit of five members which includes head of the family, spouse and three dependents. As per the scheme provisions, each enrolled BPL family was issued a smart card entitling the family to avail treatment from empanelled public as well as private hospitals. The scheme was being implemented through the duly selected Insurance Companies, informed the Minister. He further added that scheme is doing well over the year in the State of Punjab. The scheme is under implementation from the last six years. The premium has come down from Rs.670 to Rs.283 per family per annum and claim ratio under the scheme has also increased from 40% to 106%.

Addressing the meeting Principal Secretary Health, Vini Mahajan said that State Government has launched an organized campaign to change health seeking behaviour and life style to decrease Cancer burden on the society. She further added that State has already taken initiative to strengthen the cancer treatment infrastructure with an outlay of around Rs.750 crores in the public sector which include setting up of 100-bedded Advanced Cancer Research Centre Bathinda, Upgradation of Medical Colleges, 40-bedded Surgical Oncology Wing at Sangrur and 200-bedded a Tata Memorial Cancer Research Centre at Mullanpur.   

Earlier the Health Minister opened the newly installed complaint box at DHS office and found as many as 12 complaints. The Minister has asked the director Health to ensure the speedy disposal of these complaints. He informed that most of the complaints were pertaining to either disbursal of retirement dues of the retired employees or the settlement of the service records. Assuring the complainants, the Minister said that all the departmental obstacles would be sorted out within seven days.

Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Hussan Lal Secretary Health, Vikas Garg Special Secretary Health, Dr. Karanjeet Singh Director Health and Dr. Jatinder Kaur, Director Family Welfare.  

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