Punjab govt rolls out universal health insurance plan

With an aim of ensuring ‘Health for All,’ the Punjab Government has recently launched ‘Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana’ (SSBY), covering more than 85% of the population. The launch of the scheme was marked by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh by distributing first 10 beneficiaries cards simultaneously at 22 District Headquarters. The scheme turned out to be one of the finest Medical Insurance Cover to the masses, where almost 46 lakhs families are to be covered for 5 lakh rupees cashless Medical Cover. The scheme has been termed as path breaking scheme by Health Systems Corporation Chairman Amardeep Singh Cheema, where Universal coverage is given to citizen, whereas the Centre’s scheme was only covering the SECC (Socio Economic Cast Census) data beneficiaries, which is around 14 lakhs families in Punjab. However, the state government extended this cover to more than 46 Lakh families as beneficiaries in all empanelled public and private hospitals. Mr Cheema said the government is committed to the welfare of the residents, with free Blood Testing, Dialysis facilities, blood transfusion etc. almost all facilities are free of cost in the government run Civil hospitals, which really take care of the daily expenditure of a common man, where major part of expanses of out of pocket are used only for medical services.