Himcare cards in to be made throughout the year
Over 5.80 lakh people of the state have benefitted from the Himcare Yojana being effectively run by the state government for the patients and the government has spent around Rs. 810 crore on beneficiaries to provide them free of cost quality treatment. Recently, the government took a decision to further strengthen the HIMCARE scheme by streamlining the process of making Himcare cards. According to the new policy, the Himcare cards would be made on a quarterly basis every year, i.e. in the months of March, June, September and December.
However, keeping in view the importance of these cards, especially for the poor and needy families, the government has decided to grant the power to the principals of medical colleges and medical superintendents to allow them to permit making of Himcare cards any time throughout the year in special circumstances which they deem fit based on the financial conditions, severity of disease or any other appropriate reason. Himcare cards could be made any time of the year for the families falling in any such categories. The new decision would come into effect after July, 2025. The portal is open in July month and people could make Himcare cards anytime during this month.
A spokesperson of the state government stated that apart from this the government has also decided to provide free of cost treatment to accident victims in all of the state-run medical institutions. The step would ensure timely, quality and free treatment to the victim instead of waiting for the money, bill clearances or a relative to come. This decision could prove to be a life saving decision for the persons injured in an accident.
The spokesperson stated that these cards would have a validity of one year and the portal for applying for the cards would be opened after every three months. The portal would remain open for a month in March, June, September and December every year for each quarter safely.
The people could also renew the Himcare cards throughout the year. If the beneficiary fails to renew cards on time as per the policy and their card expires, the expired cards could be renewed in March, June, September and December, as per the new policy.
The spokesperson said that the decision has been taken to ensure selection of eligible beneficiaries and ensure that people renew their cards on time to avail seamless, free of cost as well as quality health care facilities.
The Himcare card is made free of cost for various sections, including BPL, MGNREGA, street vendors, orphans and prison inmates. A nominal fee of Rs. 365 is charged for these cards from single women, contract and outsource employees, persons with 40 percent and above disability, mid day meal workers, part time workers and daily wagers. A fee of Rs. 1,000 is charged from the remaining eligible sections.
There are 5.26 lakh Himcare card holder families in the state and the card covers upto maximum of five members of a family under one card. A total of 3,227 diseases are covered for free treatment under the HIMCARE scheme. The State government’s 136 health institutions in the state, along with PGI Chandigarh. Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, and Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (Tata Memorial Center), New Chandigarh are providing free of cost treatment to the Himcare beneficiaries. Apart from this, dialysis services are being given free of cost under the Himcare scheme in all the private institutions functioning in the state.
