CHANDEL, January 25: Under the scheme of Manipur State Illness Assistance Fund, the Chandel District Health department distributed account payee cheques to ten beneficiaries hailing from four blocks of the district during a simple function held at the district Hospital.
The function was also attended by MLA 41 A/C Chandel St Nunghlung Victor, deputy commissioner, Chandel Th Chittaranjan Singh and chief medical officer Dr S Ibomcha Singh.
Chairperson of District Hospital Management Committee Hb Kobor in his keynote address said Manipur State Illness Assistance Fund was launched in the district in October 2013 with a total sum of Rs 20 lakhs.
Speaking on the salient features of the scheme, Kobor stated that the scheme provides financial assistance to the poor patients of the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, who are suffering from life threatening diseases for their treatment.
Patients belonging to BPL and a domicile of Manipur may furnish income certificates fulfilling BPL criteria countersigned by an officer not below the rank of SDO if BPL card is not available at the time of application for the scheme.
Retired govt. employees are also eligible to apply subject to fulfilling the income criteria.
The chairperson further stated treatment should be at JNIMS Porompat; RIMS, Lamphelpat; District Hospitals of Manipur; private hospitals or diagnostic centres empanelled by the state govt.
Only one-time grant with a ceiling of Rs 1.5 lakhs is available to a patient, he said.
Elaborating on how to apply for the scheme, Kobor said the duly filled up application III, certificates A/B, BPL income certificates, affidavit, and domicile certificate along with the expenditure receipts countersigned by the medical superintendent, should be submitted to the director or the chief medical officer of the concerned districts by the patient or the family.
He also said that a sum of Rs 50 thousand could be sanctioned by the district authority while another amount above Rs 50 thousand will be processed at the state level.
He also went on to inform that 3800 mosquito-nets, provided to NRHM Chandel by the State Health Mission Director for distribution to pregnant women as main targeted beneficiary would be distributed under the supervision of district malaria officer, Chandel and NRHM/Chandel.
MLA St Nunghlung Victor; DC Chandel Th Chittaranjan Singh and CMO Dr S Ibomcha Singh handed the cheques to the beneficiaries.
After the function, the MLA accompanied by DC Chandel inspected the existing infrastructure of the hospital.
Briefing the media, the MLA expressed regret on the part of the Manipur Development Society (MDS) for disappearing from their assurance to provide 15 lakhs for management of operation theatre and at the same time denounced the stay order of two doctors who were supposed to join the district hospital.
Terming it ‘unfortunate’, the MLA has drawn the attention of the government and the concerned minister to look into the matter and take steps for development of the only health care centre in the district.