HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEMES
Bhubaneswar, May 13: In response to several complaints that people are facing difficulties in getting benefits under different health insurance schemes in certain hospitals, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Wednesday asked the health department to initiate criminal cases against erring institutions.
Stating that providing better health care is one of the top priorities of the state government, Patnaik said under no circumstance would the government allow harassment or neglect of people by hospital authorities.
This was announced by health minister Atanu S Nayak after a meeting in this respect chaired by the Chief Minister. Patnaik issued such a direction while reviewing implementation of the Biju Krushak Kalyan Yojana and Rastriya Swastha Bima Yojana. He asked the health department to issue show cause notices to the heads of hospitals that have been accused of denying benefits of health insurance to the needy.
The Chief Minister also said that hospital authorities must be taken to task for any activities that would adversely affect those who seek care and treatment in hospitals. Patnaik said that he would review the health insurance schemes once every two months, the health minister said, adding that the state government was contemplating opening a separate directorate to exclusively deal with health insurance schemes.
It was stated the state government has spent an amount of Rs 26crore under Biju Krushak Kalyan Yojana (BKKY). About 55lakh farmers families have been covered under the BKKY. Similarly, an amount of Rs 108.46crore has been provided to different insurance companies under Rastriya Swastha Bima Yojana. As many as 44lakh famies have been registered under the Rastriya Swastha Bima Yojana.
