Chandigarh: The Punjab government will launch a health insurance scheme offering free treatment up to ₹10 lakh on January 15, state health minister Balbir Singh said on Friday.
Addressing a press conference in Chandigarh, the minister said the scheme will be launched by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal.
He said the scheme will provide health insurance coverage to around three crore people in Punjab. More than 9,000 Common Service Centres (CSCs) will issue health cards and special camps will also be organised in urban localities and villages. Once enrolled, beneficiaries will be eligible for treatment, while the card will be issued within 10 to 15 days. The entire state is expected to be covered within about four months.
Balbir Singh said the scheme will involve minimal formalities. Anyone with a Punjab Aadhaar card and voter ID will be eligible. He said around 65 lakh families in the state will benefit from the scheme.
The minister said pensioners, government employees and the general public will all be covered under the scheme, with the only condition being that the beneficiary must be a resident of Punjab with a Punjab-issued Aadhaar and voter card.
He added that over 9,000 enrolment camps will be organised through CSCs across villages and urban neighbourhoods. The government aims to complete enrolment of all eligible residents within three to four months.
Highlighting the impact of existing health initiatives, Balbir Singh said that 4.59 crore people, nearly every second Punjabi, have availed medicines and services from Aam Aadmi Clinics. He said patients suffering from chronic diseases such as asthma and diabetes are regularly getting tests done and medicines from these clinics.
He also said several other states and even international entities have shown interest in Punjab’s healthcare models.
