HEALTH

Health insurance policy for the poor
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 15
The district is all set to implement the Universal Health Insurance Plan prepared by the Centre for the poor through the National Insurance Company with a view to ensuring the required medical care to them at a premium of Re 1 per day only.

To complete all modalities, a high-level meeting of all SDMs of the sub-divisions, head of the departments concerned and representatives of the National Insurance Company was held here on Monday under the chairmanship of Mr Anurag Verma, Deputy Commissioner.

Elaborating the scheme, the DC said the scheme provided reimbursement of hospitalisation expenses up to Rs 30,000 to an individual/family and a personal accident cover for death of earning head of the family for Rs 25,000.

He said any individual between the age of three months and 65 years could be covered under the policy. Under the policy, “family” meant earning head, spouse and up to maximum of first three dependent children. Dependent parents could also be included in the family, he added.

Mr Verma further said the policy could also be issued to a group consisting of minimum 25 persons or groups consisting of persons in multiples of 25.

The Deputy Commissioner stated that the insurance company would pay 10 per cent of the premium as referral fee/agency commission to individuals, panchayats, co-operatives and NGOs (non- government organisations) who helped in promoting the sale of the scheme, he added.

The DC directed all district officers in charge of the Health and Family Welfare Department, Punjab Health System Corporation, Social Welfare Department and Department of Rural Development and Panchayats to extend their co-operation to implement the scheme.

Mr Verma asked all SDMs to apprise the eligible persons of the scheme by involving panchayats and NGOs working in their jurisdictions.

Mr A.S. Namdhari, Senior Divisional Manager, National Insurance Company, said the corporation also had its offices at Khanna, Samrala and Jagraon where the applications and premium would be collected.

He said the policy could be obtained by any individual, family and association/institutions for members as well as their family members.

He informed that the premium for an individual had been fixed at Rs 365 per year; for a family up to five members, including the first three children, at Rs 548 per annum; and for a family up to seven (including the first three children and dependent parents) at Rs 730 per annum.

CMCH introduces health insurance scheme
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 15
The Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), Ludhiana today became the first medical institute in North India to implement the Community-based Health Insurance Scheme announced by the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in July this year. The scheme was accepted in principal for implementation by the executive body of the CMC society in July. Now a tie-up has been reached with United India Insurance Company Limited.

A cheque for insurance cover for 155 employees of the hospital was handed over to the insurance company by the Medical Superintendent, Dr John Abraham.

To make health services and treatment affordable, the public sector general insurance companies are being encouraged to promote this scheme. Under the scheme, a premium equivalent to Re 1 per day for an individual, Rs 1.50 per day for a family of five and Rs 2 per day for a family of seven, will entitle the beneficiaries to get reimbursement of medical expenses up to Rs 30,000 towards hospitalisation, a cover for death due to accident for Rs 25,000 and compensation for loss of earning at the rate of Rs 50 per day up to a maximum of 15 days. Government will contribute Rs 10 per year towards premium for people living below poverty line. “The proposal for starting this scheme at our hospital will be limited for illness involving hospitalisation. The policy is open to all members of the community (including the employees). The CMC will get a health insurance for each permanent worker or those having a contractual employment having expected service period of 1 year or more. A premium of Re 1 per day will be deducted from the salary of each staff member said Dr Abraham. 

Heart institute ties up with Italian surgeon
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 15
In an effort to bring the best heartcare to the people of the region, Hero DMC Heart Institute, Ludhiana, has joined hands with a world renowned cardiac surgeon, Prof Anatonio Maria Calafiore, who has not only trained renowned cardiac surgeons in India and other countries, but made a rich contribution in the field of cardiac surgery by introducing various innovative techniques and has earned many firsts to his credits in the field of cardiac surgery.

Professor Calafiore, currently the chief of cardiac surgery at the University of Turino, Italy, and pioneer in the techniques of use of arterial conduits beating heart surgeries and LV ventriculoplasties in the world, has agreed to be a visiting professor at Hero DMC Heart Institute and will perform high risk surgeries here.

Announcing this, Mr Narinder Singh, Chief Operating Officer, Hero DMC Heart Institute, said Dr Calafiore will be visiting the institute three times a year. “The first visit will take place in February, 2004. During his visits, Dr Calafiore will perform difficult and critical surgeries on the patients of heart failure, aneurysm of aorta and of the arch of aorta etc. It is expected that he will be able to carry out 45 to 50 such difficult surgeries in a year at Hero DMCH Heart Institute. Those who have been refused heart surgery elsewhere can register themselves with Hero DMC Heart Institute to get operated by Dr Calafiore in February, 2004,” said Mr Narinder Singh.

Workshop on ayurveda inaugurated
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 15
A two-day seminar and workshop on ayurveda being held at the Government College of Science Education and Research, Jagraon was inaugurated today by Mr Gurcharan Singh Ghalib, MP.

Mr P. Ram, Financial Commissioner, Department of Forests, Government of Punjab, and Dr P.S. Jassi, former-Director, Punjab Health Department, and Professor Gurdev Singh of Sosva Chandigarh were also present on the occasion.

In their introductory lecture, Dr B.K. Dutt and Dr Ashok Sharma, chairman and general secretary of the ICA, respectively, spoke in the recognition of ayurveda as science of life. Dr Jassi and Mr P. Ram stressed on the need of cultivation of medicinal plants. Dr P.S. Bhatti, Director, of the college, also spoke on the occasion.

Dr Major Singh Buttar narrated the successful case history of homoeopathic treatment. Dr Ghamanda, Dr Batish, Dr Yogi of SSMD College, Moga, and Mr Ajmer Singh also spoke on various medical topics. Dr Inderpaul Kaur discussed the treatment of diabetic disorders. Dr Ashok Sharma spoke on the past present and future of ayurveda. 

Quack puts youth's life in danger
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 15
A youth from Birmi village in the district is battling for life at the CMC Hospital here after a quack in the village gave him some wrong injection. The quack was allegedly practising on a fake identity for the past 10 years. He is continuing with the job despite villagers filing complaints to the Jagraon police and district health authorities.

According to a copy of the affidavit and complaint filed before the DIG, Ludhiana, and the Civil Surgeon here, the victim, Mohinder Singh, was down with fever and the ‘accused’, Manju, gave him an injection. The injection worsened his condition and paralysed his left leg.

The youth was admitted to the Civil Hospital here and later shifted to the CMC when his condition worsened. The office of the Civil Surgeon has also given a report that a wrong injection was administered on the youth.

The village panchayat has also passed a resolution against the self-styled ‘doctor’. The alleged quack is working on the name of a doctor whose name he had displayed on the boards. A copy of the resolution of the village panchayat says that the accused had earlier also given wrong injections or medicines to many other villagers.

The village panchayat has demanded stern action against him.