The Orissa government on Wednesday decided to introduce from this month the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) for the BPL families living in the 30 districts of the state.
Under the scheme, which will be continued till 2012-13, the families will be able to avail themselves of health services worth Rs 30,000 per annum free of cost.
The annual premium of Rs 3,000 for each person will be borne by the Centre and the state government in the ratio of 75:25. The families will have to pay a meagre Rs 30 towards the cost of the smart cards, which will enable them to get medical services at listed government and private hospitals. The beneficiaries will be provided a minimum of Rs 100 and a maximum of Rs 1000 per annum towards the cost of transportation to hospitals.
State health minister Prasanna Acharya said the New India Insurance Co would cover the families under the scheme and provide the cards.
According to the 1997 survey, Orissa had 44.93 lakh BPL families. However, a dispute has arisen over the number of such families in the state according to the 2002 survey. While the state government is claiming that the number is 41.56 lakhs, the plan panel is putting the figure at 37.79 lakh. The health minister, however, said the problem would be sorted out soon.
Haryana and Gujarat have already implemented the scheme.