The Cabinet on Tuesday gave its nod to ensuring treatment of up to Rs 5 lakh to people suffering from severe diseases such as cancer, kidney failure and liver disorders under the Mukhyamantri Gambhir Bimari Upchar Yojana (MMGBUY). However, the Government will bear the treatment cost of only those patients who belong to families that generated an income of less than Rs 8 lakh per annum for three consecutive years, Cabinet Secretary (In-Charge) Ajoy Kumar Singh said.
“All types of cancer will be covered under the scheme. Besides, patients in need of kidney transplant and the ones suffering from serious liver disorders will also be eligible for free treatment of up to Rs 5 lakh under the scheme,” said Singh. “The Government has tied up with 41 hospitals, including some of the most reputed hospitals from across the country, for this purpose,” he added.
The Cabinet on Tuesday also decided to provide free treatment to acid attack victims under the same scheme. However, there will be no upper limit for the cost of treatment in case of an acid attack victim undergoing treatment under the said scheme. “There will be no upper limit of Rs 5 lakh for acid attack victims undergoing treatment under the scheme. The Government will bear all the expenses of treatment even if it exceeds Rs 5 lakh,” said Singh.
A district level committee headed by the concerned Civil Surgeon will have the independent authority over releasing the treatment cost for patients who fall in the eligibility criteria. The committee, Singh said, will also have representation of a local MLA or his appointed representative. “The income certificate will have to be issued by the Circle Officer and produced before the district level committee,” he added.
The amount will be transferred to the account of the hospital through Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) or a demand draft will be issued in favour of the concerned hospital. At present, only Ayushman Bharat Yojana of the Centre provides free treatment to patients in need of surgeries. However, the scheme only covers Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. The MMGBUY, on the other hand, comes as a major relief for the working professionals and smalltime businessmen in Jharkhand, most of who earn less than Rs 8 lakh in a year.
The 41 hospitals enlisted by the Government for the scheme include big names such as Apollo Hospital Kolkata, Fortis Hospital Kolkata and Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai.
The Cabinet on Tuesday also decided to hold the Budget session from February 28 to March 28 and table the Budget on March 3. The Budget session will have 19 working days, and it will remain suspended in between due to Holi vacation. The Cabinet on Tuesday passed a total of five proposals.
It decided to disburse Rs 12.27 crore for payment to Central and State Security Forces deployed in Jharkhand during the 2019 Assembly elections. Besides, the Cabinet decided to regularize the services of those ad hoc employees who have been regularly serving their duties from at least 10 years before June 20, 2016 if they fit the regularisation criteria.
