45% beneficiaries await health cards

Sanjeev Singh Bariana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 11

Despite tall claims of covering the poor under the Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Bima Yojana, at least 45 per cent of the beneficiaries have not even been issued health cards.

Official figures presented in the Assembly in reply to a question by former CLP Leader Sunil Jakhar put the number of families covered under the health insurance at 26.72 lakh against the total of around 45 lakh eligible families.

Launched in October 2013, the scheme was intended to cover only the BPL families. The benefit was subsequently extended to farmers, labourers and even a section of traders. As per the official figures, the state has 28.9 lakh blue cardholder families, 11 lakh farmers and their families (holding “J forms”) and 2.33 lakh small traders and roughly 2.32 lakh construction workers.

Besides Rs 50,000 for medical treatment, the insurance provides for a cover of Rs 5 lakh to a beneficiary in case of accidental death or incapacitation of the head of the family. At least 214 government and 216 private hospitals are empanelled under the scheme.

Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani said: “The preparation of health cards is an ongoing process. All cards will be issued before the year-end. I understand that some beneficiaries are facing difficulties. This is largely because they are not fully aware of the procedure. The shortage of doctors at some places is also affecting the implementation of the scheme, particularly in the rural areas.”

Jakhar said: “In the absence of adequate medical staff, beneficiaries are unable to avail the health facilities in government hospitals.”