GUWAHATI: Assam government on Thursday distributed Rs 39.69 crore to 6115 beneficiaries under the third phase of its unique Atal Amrit Abhiyan aimed at providing critical healthcare relief to families with annual income Rs five lakh or less.
Atal Amrit Ahiyan is a unique health assurance scheme launched by the Government of Assam on December 25, 2016 for the benefit of economically poor people of the State. It may be noted that under the scheme patients suffering from 6 critical diseases such as cancer, cardio vascular disease, kidney disorder, neurological conditions, burn injuries and neo-natal complications get monetary assistance upto 2 lakh rupees. Under this scheme, a family of five would be eligible for a total maximum sum of Rs 10 lakh with Rs 2 lakh to each member.
In the previous two rounds, total 9329 beneficiaries received cheques for a total amount of Rs 53.73 crore under the scheme as reimbursement for the expenditure incurred for medical treatment.
After this third round of reimbursement mode, beneficiaries with an income of Rs 5 lakhs or less would now be able to take benefit of cashless card based system to receive quality healthcare by producing the card at the empanelled hospitals throughout the state and the country. More than 1.5 crore people have enrolled for the card system in the state under Atal Amrit Abhiyan till February 2018.
Terming the Atal Amrit Abhiyan scheme as revolutionary which would bring succour to the underprivileged section of the society in fighting critical diseases, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal appreciated the Health and Family Welfare Department and National Health Mission for making this scheme a reality.
Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that that this is the third and final round of reimbursements under Atal Amrit Abhiyan and from now onwards card holders under the scheme would be able take benefit of cashless healthcare system. Saying that Rs 400 crore has been allotted in the state budget for the scheme, Sarma urged the people to take full benefit of this scheme which will cover 428 procedures under 6 critical diseases. He also informed that the cards would be activated within April 2018.