Though the state government’s ambitious health scheme Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana (DDSSY) is yet to be renewed, beneficiaries are still being allowed to reap benefits of the card.
Panaji
The universal health scheme that covers over 471 ailments and around two lakh families in the state was valid till March 31, following which the renewal process was to begin. A trip to several of the empanelled hospitals revealed that the patients were still being admitted and treated under the scheme.
But with the code of conduct and a subsequent election that reset the health minister, the scheme was on the back burner of the government’s agenda. Newly inducted minister Vishwajit Rane, however, said the scheme would continue but would be slightly tweaked.
“We were supposed to meet earlier this week, but we are working on what changes need to be made to the scheme. It is still functional, however, and we will make the required changes in the coming week after discussing with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar,” said Rane.
According to the current tender document, the government will face a penalty charge if the premium isn’t paid. It is yet to be seen how much this amount is. So far, installments of the premiums have been paid in quarterly payments.
Another area of the scheme that is yet to be smoothened out are the payments to the hospitals from the insurance company.
It was revealed at the weekly review meetings that uploading of patients documents for verification from the insurance company was taking time thus leading to a delay in the payment.
