CM’S home district of Patiala leads in treatment availability

PATIALA: Patiala district leads the state by providing treatment to 33,981 beneficiaries in government health institutions under the Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana, launched by chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh last year.

The district is followed by Amritsar and Ludhiana.

As many as 2.89 lakh families are enrolled under the scheme that envisages health insurance cover of up to Rs 5 lakh.

District nodal officer Dr MS Dhaliwal said the beneficiaries visiting government hospitals for treatment are more interested in availing benefits under the scheme. “We have ensured hassle-free service to claimants besides ensuring satisfactory treatment,” he says.

In one year, 17,000 people approached empanelled private hospitals for treatment. “Initially, we faced problems due to lack of awareness among people, but now things have been streamlined,” he says. The empanelled hospitals, both

AS MANY AS 2.89 LAKH FAMILIES ARE ENROLLED UNDER THE SCHEME THAT ENVISAGES HEALTH INSURANCE COVER OF UP TO RS 5 LAKH. IN ONE YEAR, 17,000 PEOPLE APPROACHED EMPANELLED PRIVATE HOSPITALS FOR TREATMENT

government and private, provide 24-hour cashless treatment to the beneficiaries. “We take feedback from beneficiaries so that required changes can be made,” Patiala civil surgeon Dr Harish Malhotra adds.

Health minister Balbir Sidhu said to ensure maximum benefits of Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana (SSBY) to people of the state, the government has decided to increase the health packages from 1,393 to 1,579 being offered under scheme to eligible beneficiaries.