1.67 lakhs BPL families to avail free medical treatment in Ahmedabad

Around 1.67 lakh below poverty line (BPL) families in the city will be able to avail of cashless treatment under Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY).

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has already started issuing cards to BPL families. Under the health insurance scheme floated by the central government five members of a BPL family can get free-of-cost treatment up to Rs30,000 at private hospitals.

Around 46 private hospitals have been roped in under this scheme with more to be brought in soon as well. The city's civic body has already started the process of issuing BPL cards in the south, north and east zones of the city. "Around 1.67 lakh families that were registered in the BPL list prepared in 2002 will be eligible to get benefits under RSBY," said IK Patel, deputy municipal commissioner of AMC's health department. The biometric health card issued under this scheme will contain a photograph and thumb impression of each of the beneficiaries.

Rs700 will be paid as a premium per family to cover them under this insurance scheme - of which the central government will give 75% and the state would bear 25% of the cost. 

"This health insurance will provide a BPL family with the advantage of treatment at private hospitals in their areas for minor diseases and surgeries, while for major surgeries and treatments they may contact VS and Civil Hospitals," said Patel.