Benefit under Swasthya Sathi enhanced to Rs 5 L

Kolkata: The Mamata Banerjee government has increased the limit of benefit under Swasthya Sathi scheme from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.

As per a notification issued by the state Finance Department on Thursday, "…the basic health cover for secondary and tertiary care (including critical illness) shall be up to Rs 5 lakh per family per annum, for all cases under Swasthya Sathi".

This comes as a major initiative of the state government as it is going to benefit lakhs of people from different walks of life.

It has been stated that "Swasthya Sathi", a comprehensive group health insurance scheme introduced by the state government on February 25 in 2016, is being implemented by the department of Health and Family Welfare. After evaluating the performance of the scheme, the matter of raising the financial limit for basic health cover for secondary and tertiary care from the existing limit of Rs 1.5 lakh per family per annum, has been under active consideration of the state government to further reduce the burden of the beneficiaries." As a result, steps were taken to increase the amount for the same to Rs 5 lakh.

It has been stated in the notification that bringing a partial modification to the previous order, "the Governor is pleased to decide that the basic health cover for secondary and tertiary care (including critical illness) shall be up to Rs 5 lakh per family per annum, for all cases under Swasthya Sathi. All other aspects of the scheme, as notified from time to time, shall remain unchanged."

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had launched the scheme on December 30 in 2016. The scheme was first announced following a cabinet meeting on February 17 in the same year. A State Level Implementation Committee (SLIC) under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, was formed to supervise implementation of the scheme.

It may be mentioned that the Mamata Banerjee government has brought retired sports personalities, one lakh cable TV operators, television artistes, civic volunteers and ICDS and ASHA workers under the scheme.

Thousands of people have reaped benefits of the scheme and it has helped them a lot. Now, the increase in the health cover up to Rs 5 lakh is going to benefit people immensely.

It may be mentioned that the state government has taken a series of steps to ensure that people do not face any problem in getting better treatment, including free treatment in state-run hospitals.