Govt extends MHIS III policy period till October 1

SHILLONG: The state government has extended the policy period for the third phase of the Megha Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS) to October 1.
Health and Family Welfare Minister AL Hek said on Tuesday the deadline was till August 15.
The government recently approved the fourth phase of the insurance scheme in convergence with the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Swasthya Suraksha Mission or Ayushman Bharat.
Hek said the latest phase will cover all the earlier beneficiaries and there will be no biometric enrolment but general enrolment for the fourth phase in view of the fact that many residents stay outside Meghalaya.
“In general enrolment, people just have to prove that they are residents of Meghalaya,” the minister said.
When asked about the probable launch of the fourth phase, Hek said it be soon as the scheme is rolled out at the national level.
The insurance cover of Rs 2.80 lakh under Phase III has been increased to Rs 5 lakh under Phase IV that includes medical investigations and tests that a patient requires.
MHIS is a universal health insurance scheme for all residents of Meghalaya, excluding state and central employees. The scheme was launched in 2012.
To a query, Hek said there is a need to regulate the cost of treatment in both government and private hospitals and any hospital should have reasonable charges for treatment of patients.
Hek to look into tender
A day after the Federation of Parenteral Manufacturers of India alleged discrepancies in a recent tender issued by the Directorate of Health Services (MI) for supply of intravenous fluids, Hek said the government is always looking for good companies for supply of medicines.
The federation had questioned the clause in the tender that said the manufacturer should have annual turnover of Rs 50 crore in the last three years.
Hek, however, said he is yet to go through the tender that was floated and he would find out whether the particular clause of Rs 50 crore is feasible.