SHILLONG, Dec 16 � Meghalaya Government officially launched the universal medical health insurance for all the residents of the State at a public function here yesterday, stating it is the first of its kind in the country.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma handed out the biometric medical health insurance scheme identity card to a select few beneficiaries at the function.
The scheme named Megha Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS) would give medical relief of Rs 90,000 annually to a family of five and Rs 1.6 lakh in case of critical illness.
Distributing the cards, Sangma said that the Government has lived up to its commitment to provide better health care to the people of the State. �Now you need not worry about medical bills, the Government would take care of it as much as possible,� he told the gathering.
Somewhat similar universal health care schemes are available in developed European nations and the Americas, where the Government takes care of all medical bills, except dental care.
Sangma further assured that the Government would try to increase the benefit as time goes by. �This is a scheme that we have worked out primarily keeping in mind the sustainability factor, because Government health care even in developed nations is facing challenges,� he said.
Under the scheme, the Government would invest Rs 20 crore and also add the amount (Rs 30,000) that comes from the Centre through Rastriya Swasthya Bima Yojna for Below Poverty Line families.
ICICI Lombard is the insurance company which would pay the insurance benefit to the people by paying medical expenses in empanelled hospitals both Government and private, within and outside the State, he added.
