Srinagar, Sept 11: In a major step towards the overall welfare of residents of J&K and facilitating affordable healthcare facilities Lieutenant Governor, Shri Manoj Sinha today announced the Jammu and Kashmir Health Scheme in order to provide universal health Insurance coverage to all the residents of the Union Territory.
The Lt Governor observed that people’s welfare is the core agenda of the Government and the Government will ensure that all workable reforms and benefits percolate to each and every resident hassle free.
Terming the scheme as a major support for facilitating the healthcare and benefit to all the residents, even from the most relegated sections of the society,
Government is committed to improve the overall standard of life of the citizens, he maintained.
Addressing a press conference here at Raj Bhavan Auditorium, the Lt Governor announced the approval of unique health insurance scheme to provide Universal Health Insurance coverage to all J&K residents. The decision was taken today during the Administrative Council meeting.
The Lt Governor was flanked by Sh. BVR Subrahmanyam,Chief Secretary; Sh Atal Dulloo Financial Commissioner Health and Medical Education; Sh Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary PDD & Information Departments; Sh. Nitishwar Kumar Principal Secretary to Lt Governor, Sh. Simrandeep Singh, Secretary Public Grievances and other concerned officers.
Enumerating the salient features of the scheme, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha added that the J&K Health Scheme will provide health insurance cover free of cost to all the uncovered residents of J&K presently not covered under AB-PMJAY.“Jammu and Kashmir Health Scheme will provide universal health insurance coverage to all the residents of Jammu and Kashmir. This will be implemented in convergence with Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY),” he said.
The Lt Governor also sought suggestions from the people of Jammu and Kashmir with respect to the participating in a contest to suggest a suitable name for the scheme.
“We seek suggestions from the general public in order to name this scheme for which a small committee would be formed soon which will select the best name among those suggestions,” Lt Governor said.
While giving details about the health scheme, Financial Commissioner Health and Medical Education, Atal Dulloo informed the media persons that the scheme would also include even employees and retirees from Government Services of J&K and their families. It will have the same benefits as available under AB-PMJAY with an annual health insurance cover of Rs. 5.00 lakh per family on floater basis,” he said.
He stated that the scheme will cover about 15 lakh families over and above the 5.97 lakh families already covered under AB-PMJAY. Besides,1592 Medical Packages have already been approved under AB-PMJAY to which all the beneficiaries of J&K Health Scheme will have access.
Atal Dulloo further said that in addition, the packages of life consuming diseases such as cancer and kidney failure and treatment of Covid-19 are also covered under the Scheme.
He further explained that all high-end treatments of Oncology, Cardiology and Nephrology will be covered from day one while the high-end diagnostic treatments during hospitalization will also be covered.
According to the scheme there shall be no restriction on the family size or age and all the pre-existing medical conditions shall be covered under the scheme.
The scheme shall cover 3 days of pre-hospitalization, hospitalization and 15 days of post hospitalization including diagnostic care and expenditure on medicines.
Atal Dulloo also pointed out that at present there are about 23,300 empanelled hospitals across India where this facility can be availed and these include 218 public and private hospitals already empanelled in J&K.
He said that the Administrative Council has also decided that the health department will be launching a beneficiary registration drive to distribute Golden Cards (e-cards) amongst the beneficiaries soon.
The Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data will be used for identification of families for the scheme while the families suffering from any of the deprivations defined under SECC are already covered under AB-PMJAY. “However, under J&K Health Scheme, the remaining families including those who do not suffer from any deprivation will also be covered. In case, any family is left out from the database of SECC 2011, the procedure for inclusion in the database has also been approved” he informed.
He also informed that the annual financial implication for JK Health Scheme would be Rs 123 Crore.
Under J&K Health Scheme, portability option will be available as applicable under AB-PMJAY, which will allow the beneficiary families to avail cashless service from any of the health care providers empanelled under AB-PMJAY across the country.
Atal Dulloo added that the Scheme shall be implemented through an insurance service provider discovered through transparent competitive bidding viz. M/S Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company Ltd.
On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor also announced the formal launch of J&K-Integrated Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (JK-IGRAMS) in order to address the complaints and grievances of people in a more effective manner.
“Public Grievances Redressal is the topmost priority for my government while I have been extensively touring different areas of Jammu and Kashmir and meeting large numbers of people from all walks of life. I am convinced that one of the most important things is to listen to the people and resolve their daily problems,” Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said. He further added “We need to put in place a People-Centric, responsive and accountable administrative structure.”
