Illness aid scheme for 13
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 16 2011:
For the first time after the launch of the scheme, 13 patients belonging to BPL families in Manipur are set to receive monetary assistance as one time grant of Rs 1 lakh under the Manipur State Illness Assistance Fund of Health Department, Government of Manipur.
Disclosing this to The Sangai Express during an interaction in his office chamber today, Director of Medical & Health Department Dr S Ibomcha said that acting on the guidelines given by the Government of India, the Manipur State Illness Assistance Fund had been formally launched by Health Minister L Jayantakumar on February 21 last and the Health Department started issuing of the application forms from the following day.
The Manipur State Illness Assistance Fund has been launched with the objective of helping poor patients coming from BLP families in meeting their medical expenses.
The assistance would be provided in the form of one time grant.
From around 100 application forms received, the Department has identified 13 patients, including two from Churachandpur district, one each from Thoubal Haokha and Thoubal Sangaithel, three from Bishnupur district and the rest from other districts, for extending the benefit.
Medical cases of the selected patients range from kidney transplant to anti-cancer Chemotherapy to gall bladder operations.
The selection have been made on the basis of the medical records of the patients, the Director explained, adding that many of the application forms have to be rejected as the medical reports submitted were of earlier dates, prior to the launch of the scheme.
A committee headed by Chief Secretary DS Poonia and Joint Secretary Athem Muivah as chairman and member respectively would first conduct a proper assessment and checking before issuing a cheque of Rs 1 lakhs to each of the selected 13 patients, Dr Ibomcha informed.
Dr Ibomcha further disclosed that the scheme has been launched after the Government of Manipur sanctioned an amount of Rs 4 crores for the purpose.
In addition to this, a sum of Rs 2 lakhs is supposed to be provided from the side of the Govt of India.
However, the amount has not yet been released so far.
It is said that the application forms for availing the benefit under the Manipur State Illness Assistance Fund could be held not only from the office of the Directorate of Health Services located at Lamphelpat, but also from JNIMS, RIMS, all District Hospitals, CHCs and PHCs located in different parts of the State.