Benefit under MSIAF extended
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Chandel, January 25 2014 : Under the scheme of Manipur State Illness Assistance Fund (MSIAF), Chandel District Health Department today distributed account payee cheques to 10 beneficiaries hailing from four blocks of the district during a simple function held at the district hospital in the presence of MLA of 41- Chandel AC St Nunghlung Victor, Deputy Commissioner of Chandel Th Chittaranjan Singh, IAS, and Chief Medical Officer Dr S Ibomcha Singh.

The function was also attended by other medical staffs, village chiefs and leaders of various civil society organisations.

Delivering the key note address of the function, Chairperson of District Hospital Management Committee Hb Kobor said that Manipur State Illness Assistance Fund was launched in the district in October 2013 along with depositing a sum of Rs 20 lakh.

Explaining the salient features of the scheme, Kobor stated that the scheme is for poor patients belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, who suffer from life threatening diseases.

Under this scheme, the deserving patients are provided financial assistance by the Government for treatment.

For availing the benefit, patients belonging to BPL families and are domiciled in Manipur, or income certificates fulfilling BPL criteria and countersigned by an Officer not below the rank of SDO may be furnished if BPL card is not available at the time of application for the scheme.

Retired govt.employees are also eligible to apply subject to fulfilling the income criteria.

The Chairperson further explained that the treatment should be done either from JNIMS, Porompat; RIMS, Lamphelpat; District Hospitals of Manipur, Private hospitals or diagnostic centres empanelled by the State Govt.Only one-time grant of upto Rs 1.5 lakh is given to the patients as financial assistance towards their treatment.

On how to apply for the benefit under the scheme, Kobor said that the duly filled up application III, certificates A/B, BPL income certificates, Affidavit, domicile certificate along with the expenditure receipts countersigned by the Medical Superintendent, two recent passport size photographs attested by a gazette officer, expenditure receipts from empanelled private hospitals or diagnostic centres should be enclosed along with an application on a plain paper addressed to the Director or Chief Medical Officer of the district concerned by the patient's family.

A sum of fifty thousand rupees could be sanctioned by the district authority whereas a sum of above fifty thousand rupees will be processed at the state level, he added.

The Chairperson of District Hospital Management Committee also went on to inform that 3800 mosquito-nets provided to NRHM Chandel by the State Health Mission Director for distribution to pregnant women as main targeted beneficiaries would be distributed under the supervision of District Malaria Officer Chandel and NRHM/Chandel very soon.

The cheques were distributed among the beneficiaries after the speeches of dignitaries who graced the function.

Later on, MLA Sr Nunghlung Victor accompanied by DC Chandel Th Chittaranjan inspected the existing infrastructure of the hospital.

Briefing media persons on the sidelines of the inspection, the MLA expressed regret on the part of Manipur Development Society (MDS) for failing to keep the assurance of providing Rs 15 lakhs for management of the operation theatre in the district hospital and at the same time denounced the stay order of two doctors who are supposed to join in the hospital.

Terming the development as 'unfortunate', the MLA also drew the attention of the Government and the Minister concerned to look into the matters and take up necessary measures in this regard in the interest of development of the only health care centre in the district.

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