J&K Health Warriors Entitled to ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package’

Three Claims Dispensed So Far, Others To Be Settled Soon: Mission Director NHM

Srinagar/Jammu: Lieutenant Governer-led Jammu and Kashmir administration like rest of the States and Union Territories in the country is fighting COVID19 pandemic with utmost grit and determination to bail out the people from the ongoing crisis even as extending financial assistance to the healthcare workers involved in the containment of the deadly infection.

An official in the knowhow of the things said that Ministry of Health and Family Welfare GoI under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package has provided an insurance cover of fifty lac each to a total of around 22.12 lac public healthcare providers across the country.

The insurance cover, as per the official, extends to community health workers “who may have been in direct contact and care of such patients and may be at risk of being impacted by the infection even as in case of accidental loss of life on account of contracting COVID19.”

On account of unprecedented situation, as per the official, private hospital staff/retired/volunteer/ local urban bodies/contract/daily wage/ ad-hoc/out-sourced staff requisitioned by States/Central hospitals/autonomous hospitals of Central/States/UTs, AIIMS and INIs/Hospitals of Central Ministries can also be drafted for COVID-19 related responsibilities. “These cases will also be covered subject to numbers indicated by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare”, the official said.

“The insurance provided under this scheme would be over and above any other insurance cover being availed of by the beneficiary”, the official maintained.

“Seven healthcare workers have succumbed to the deadly infection so far across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir”, the official maintained.

Meanwhile, Mission Director National Health Mission, Jammu & Kashmir, Bhupinder Kumar said that claims of the doctors’ from Pulwama, Bandipora and that of a health worker from Baramulla have so far been settled and payment has been made to the affected families adding that “rest of the claims are under submission and shall be settled soon.”

Kumar lauded the efforts of the COVID-19 Warriors for their dedication in fighting the deadly infection and said that, “All the public healthcare providers of Jammu & Kashmir, including community health workers, who may have to be in direct contact and care of COVID-19 patients and who may be at risk of being impacted by the infection are covered under the scheme.”