HP leading in terms of providing free health coverage to families

SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh has topped the list of states in India in providing free universal health cover to the families residing in the state. Vipin Parmar, Health and Family Welfare Minister, Himachal Pradesh, announced that 28.57 per cent families have been covered under Ayushman Bharat, while 31.42 per cent of families were covered under HimCare (The Himachal Health Care Scheme).

The minister, who was addressing the concluding session of the two-day conference on Ayushman Bharat-Pradhanmantri Jan Aarogya Yojana held in New Delhi, also announced that 33,961 beneficiaries have availed free treatment benefits worth Rs 32.56 crore under the scheme. He said that provision of free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh has been made under the scheme in any registered hospital across the country and 199 hospitals were registered in the state so far, out of which 52 hospitals were private. He also said that HimCare Scheme has been started in the state from January 1, 2019, for bringing those families into the fold which were not covered under Ayushmaan Bharat with the facility of free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh in hospital. He said that 40,100 beneficiaries have availed treatment facilities worth Rs 39.93 crore under the scheme so far.