" Rajya Sabha member demands to extend validity of health workers Insurance "

 

Karnataka BJP Rajya Sabha member K C Ramamurthy on Tuesday urged the Centre to extend the Covid-19 frontline warriors insurance scheme's validity.

Under PM Garib Kalyan Yojana, the Centre had announced insurance coverage of Rs 50 lakh to the COVID frontline warriors like doctors, nurses, ASHA workers, medical, sanitary workers, paramedics and others who have been racing against time to provide critical medical care, he said in Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha.

The scheme, which was started initially on March 30, has validity till September 30, 2020

"There are more than 22 lakh public healthcare providers, including community health workers standing as a shield to protect patients inflicted with Coronavirus. There are no signs of this pandemic disappearing in the immediate future. Eminent doctors, scientists and epidemiologists have also been saying that virus may stay for at least another 6-12 months," he said.

To protect frontline worriers, the government should extend the validity period of the insurance scheme from existing September 30, 2020, to at least another six months, he said.

The ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package insurance scheme for health workers fighting COVID-19’ has now been extended for another 180 days, said the Union Health Ministry on Tuesday.

The scheme was announced on March 30 for 90 days and was extended for 90 days (up to Sept. 25).

This Central sector scheme provides an insurance cover of ₹50 lakh to healthcare providers, including community health workers, who may have to be in direct contact and care of COVID-19 patients and therefore at risk of being infected. It also includes accidental loss of life on account of contracting the infection.

It covers private hospital staff/retired/volunteer/local urban bodies/contract/daily wage/ad-hoc/outsourced staff requisitioned by States/Central hospitals/autonomous hospitals of Central/States/UTs, AIIMS & INIs/hospitals of Central Ministries drafted for COVID-19 related responsibilities.

There is no age limit for this scheme and individual enrolment is not required. The entire amount of premium is being borne by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. The benefit/claim is in addition to the amount payable under any other policies. The Ministry of Health and Family welfare has collaborated with the New India Assurance (NIA) Company Limited for providing the insurance amount based on the guidelines prepared for the scheme.

“Till date, under the scheme, 61 claims are processed and paid. 156 claims are under examination by the New India Assurance (NIA) Company Limited, and in 67 cases claims forms are yet to be submitted by the States,’’ said the Ministry.