The state government has accorded highest priority to the health sector and it is being ensured that no one is deprived of treatment in case of sickness due to economic reasons. Awareness is being generated among the people about various health insurance schemes being implemented in the State so that people can get proper benefit out of them.
The world's largest health insurance scheme, 'Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana', which has been made available to more than 50 crore beneficiaries across the country, has been implemented effectively in Himachal Pradesh. All the 4,83,643 registered households under National Health Insurance Scheme have been included in this scheme. In addition, on the basis of Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011, 2,78245 selected families have been included in the scheme. Thus this scheme would benefit about one-third of the population i.e. 22 lakh people of the state.
Under the scheme, the benefit is being provided to the beneficiary family up to Rs 5 lakh per annum. No age limit has been set for this. Beneficiaries can get benefits in any registered hospital throughout the country. Under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, about 1800 treatment procedures have been included in the state, including day-care surgery. 183 hospitals have been registered for the treatment in which 153 are in government sector and 30 hospitals are in private sector and as per the requirement, other hospitals are also being registered in the scheme.
Golden cards have been issued to 52,207 people under the scheme in the registered hospitals. Apart from this, the work of issuing Golden Cards has also been initiated through Lok Mitra Kendras. The beneficiary have to submit National Health Insurance Plan card, Aadhar Card and Ration Card for obtaining golden card. This card can be made by giving 30 rupees in Lok Mitra Center. There are 3600 Lokmitras active in the state for execution of this work.
With the innovative efforts of the state government a new scheme Himcare has been launched for those families who were not covered under Ayushman Bharat or other medical reimbursement scheme. Under the scheme, senior citizens above 70 years of age, people with more than 70 percent disability, anganwadi workers and helpers, mid-day-meal workers, part-time workers, daily wages, contract employees and Asha workers are included. Other families can also make cards in the plan by giving Rs.1000.
In the scheme, if any member of one family or more than one member is admitted to the hospital, there is a provision of free treatment upto Rs. 5 lakh. E-cards are being issued from 1st January, 2019 and would continue till March 31. Under the scheme, the target is to cover about 6.50 lakh people of the state.
Mukhya Mantri Chikitsa Sahayta Kosh has been formed as per Chief Minister's Budget Speech 2018-19. Its main objective is to provide assistance to the needy poor people suffering from serious diseases. For this, the state government has made a provision of Rs. 10 crores which will be enhanced as per the requirement.
Assistance will be provided for the treatment of critical diseases under the fund. Apart from this, provision has also been made to reimburse the outlying departments and other various expenditure through the fund to the needy poor people.
The treatment facility will be available in all government hospitals of Himachal Pradesh, PGI Chandigarh, Govt. Hospital Sector-32 Chandigarh, AIIMS New Delhi and all hospitals registered under Ayushmann Bharat Yojna.
The beneficiary will have to apply in the office of Chief Minister to get assistance under the fund. For this, treatment estimate certificate, ration card or BPL card, Prime Minister Jan Arogya scheme card / Chief Minister State Health Care Scheme card / Universal Health Protection Card (if beneficiary is eligible in these schemes), identity card, copies of verified bills (if the documents such as the beneficiary have already done their treatment) are necessary to provide. Under the scheme an amount of Rs 55 lakh has been sanctioned for 10 children's Surgery.