The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has registered around 48,000 Below Poverty Line (BPL) families in the city as beneficiaries of Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY) scheme. But these families are unable to avail health care benefits under this scheme as there are very few hospitals linked to it. As of now, only 25 hospitals have been linked to RSBY.
Under the health insurance scheme floated by the central government, five members of a BPL family can avail free treatment of up to Rs30,000 at a private hospital. The civic body has issued biometric health card with photograph and thumb impression of the beneficiary.
Every family will be paid Rs700 as premium to cover their medical expenses under this insurance scheme. The central government will bear 75% of the expenses while the rest will be borne by the state government. This health insurance will help a BPL family avail benefits from private hospitals for treatment of minor diseases and surgeries, while they can go to VS Hospital and Civil Hospital for major surgeries and treatments.
However, the number of hospitals roped in for the project is small and is likely to affect the service to be provided to BPL families. “The civic body should force the insurance company to bring in more number of private hospitals under this service so that treatment is available to poor near their residence or work place,” said Surendra Baxi, a senior Congress corporator.
The AMC’s health department has reacted positively to this and ensured that necessary steps are taken in this direction. “We are already in touch with the insurance company to increase the number of hospitals under the scheme.
Moreover, we will also provide benefits of this scheme at all municipal hospitals,” said IK Patel, deputy municipal commissioner of AMC’s health department.
