CHANDIGARH: "After assuming power by SAD-BJP government in the state more than 12 special schemes for the economic upliftment of the peasants of the state and weaker sections of the society had been launched by the Cooperative Department". This was disclosed by Punjab Cooperation Minister Capt. Kanwaljit Singh. He was addressing a function to formally launch   Bhai Ghanya health insurance scheme by the Punjab Government.

He said that Bhai Ghanya Scheme was a step forward in new direction as it would serve the economicall weakers sections of the state in health insurance. He said as compared to charging of 15 to 20 thousand rupees of premium for this segment by the commercial insurance companies, the department was providing this benefit to the members for a meagre Rs. 1246 per annum. He said for the main member this sum is charged whereas whole family of five members get the benefit of health insurance cover upto Rs. 2 lac per annum by paying around rupees two thousand. He said that 172 renowed hospitals of the state including fortis, Apollo, DMC, Escorts and PGI had been enlisted for providing free treatment to the patients covered by the scheme. He said that members can avail the benefit of cashless treatment by showing their I Cards issued specially for this purpose to the hospital authorities.

Talking to media later, the Minister said that department had fixed September 15 as the last date for filling the required form and had fixed the target to enroll one lakh members. He disclosed that against the above target a total of 1,83,916 main members and a total of 6,43,913 members had been enrolled for the scheme. He said that scheme had been offered to the members of all the Cooperative Societies besides employees of the Cooperative Department. He said that special arrangement in the form of soft loan had been made for those who were unable to pay the required premium.

He said that under this health insurance scheme a special provision has been made to issue a one time special grant of Rs. two thousand on the delivery of female child to discourage the menace of female foeticide. He also disclosed that he had received demands from several quarters for increasing the enrollment period and decision for this purpose would be taken soon in the interest of the people of the state. He said that he was hopefull of more than fifty thousand more enrollment in the event of extension of scheme.

Responding to a query, the Minister said that hospitals would bear all the cost of the treatment during the hospitalization only and no OPD facilities would be given under the scheme. He said that insurer company National Insurance Company would directly pay the bill the hospitals and for the smooth conduct of scheme Metsafe Healthcare had been nominated as Third Party Arbitrator (TPA) of the scheme. He said that scheme was being run by Bhai Ghanya Trust which has a CEO Parmeshwar Singh Sidhu who is MD of Punjab State Cooperative Bank Ltd. He also said that a toll free number 18001802027 had been launched for helping the members for availing facility of information of anytype.

On the occasion Kusumjit Sidhu Financial Commissioner Cooperation, Vishwajeet Khanna Registrar Cooperative Societies, Parmeshwar Singh Sidhu CEO Bhai Ghanya Trust, SK Batish AMD Markfed, SP Singh Dhindsa SM Cooperative Bank, Muneshwar Chander MD PUNCOFED besides the official of the National Insurance Company were also present.