GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday launched the Mukhya Mantri Lok Sewak Arogya Yojana, an online medical bill reimbursement scheme for Government of Assam’s employees, pensioners and their dependents.
Under this initiative, medical bills shall be reimbursed at rates equivalent to that of Central Government Health Schemes (CGHS) and these shall be credited directly towards the accounts of the claimant employees within a stipulated time frame. The scheme will progressively introduce a cashless payment option, read an official statement.
Speaking at the ceremonial launch held at Sankardev Kalakshetra International Auditorium in Guwahati, Chief Minister Sarma exuded confidence the Mukhya Mantri Lok Sewak Arogya Yojana shall be able to do away with bureaucratic red-tapism to a great extent and shall provide huge relief to government employees by simplifying the process of reimbursement of medical bills.
Chief Minister Sarma said, “One can get his or her medical bills reimbursed for treatment at any hospital of their choice, a departure from the earlier norm that required one to get treated only at government-empanelled hospitals for his or her bills to be successfully processed.”
Paperwork to make medical treatment benefits under the scheme cashless in as many hospitals as possible is going on, he said, adding that from coming April 1, treatments for government employees at medical colleges across the State and AIIMS at Changsari shall be made cashless. From October 2, 2024, treatments under the scheme at leading hospitals across the country shall also be made cashless, he said.
The old system of medical reimbursement shall continue to be operational for those employees unwilling to shift to Mukhya Mantri Lok Sewak Arogya Yojana, the Chief Minister added.
As part of the Swacch Bharat Divas celebrations, Sarma ceremonially transferred the first instalment of Rs. 9,000 each to the bank accounts of 1 lakh beneficiaries under the Individual Household Latrine (IHHL) scheme.
The event was also attended by Ministers of Assam Cabinet Keshab Mahanta, Jayanta Mallabaruah, Mayor of Guwahati Municipal Corporation Mrigen Sarania, Additional Chief Secretary S. Abbasi, Commissioner & Secretary (Health) Siddharth Singh, along with a host of other dignitaries. (ANI)