HIV patients to get travel allowance in bank account

The health department of the state government on Thursday inaugurated a new scheme under which travel allowance given to HIV patients will now be directly credited to their account.

This direct beneficiaries transfer (DBT) has been implemented under the Jatan scheme under which HIV patients are given travel allowance (for bus or train) to get treated at the nearest hospital offering such treatment.

The scheme also provides for Rs100 to be given as travel benefits for adults who accompany HIV positive children seeking treatment at government hospitals.

The DBT programme was inaugurated by principal secretary health PK Taneja in the presence of officials from Gujarat State Aids Control Society and Daksha Patel, secretary of Gujarat State Network of Positive People. The allowance will now be directly transferred to the Dena Bank account of the beneficiaries.