Labour Dept trying to abolish RSBY
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 21 2013:
The Rashtriya Swashthya Bima Yojana (RSBP), also known as National Health Insurance Scheme, which is being taken up under Unorganised Worker Social Security Act, 2008 for providing free medical facilities to Below poverty Line families is on the brink of collapse in the State today.
According to a highly placed source, the Director of Manipur State RSBP has curtailed the flow of funds under the scheme and the beneficiaries have been deprived of the benefits under the scheme since January 15 .
The source said that the scheme is being implemented in the State since December 2009 .
Under the scheme, all the beneficiaries can avail free medical assistance by showing a card recognized by the RSBY society.
The benefit can be availed from three private hospitals, namely, Raj Polyclinic at North AOC; Langol View at Lamphel and Shija Hospital at Langol.
Beneficiaries under RSBY are entitled to hospitalization coverage up to Rs 30,000 for most diseases that require hospitalization.
The coverage extends to five members of the family which include the head of the household, spouse and up to three dependents.
Beneficiaries are to pay only Rs 30 as registration fee while Central and State Government pay the premium to the insurer selected by the State government.
Official reports revealed that the issue of collapse of the scheme in the State came to light when the Director of the RSBY State society stops the flow of funds under the scheme.
Sources from the private hospitals, which are partners in implementation of the scheme, revealed that the treatment fees, which are to be refunded by the RSBY State Society has been stopped for quite a long time.
The due amount in the three hospitals has reached 20 to 30 lakhs of rupees.
As such, the authorities of the three hospitals met and decided to stop giving free treatment to the BPL families.
The three hospitals have made it clear to the authority of RSBP in the State that they are willing to start extending the service if at least half of their due amounts are paid off.