Interim halt to MHIS scheme

SHILLONG: Health Minister AL Hek announced in the Assembly on Tuesday a break in the implementation of the Megha Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS) Phase IV.
The state government had earlier decided to converge the Megha Health Scheme Phase IV with the Centre’s recently launched Ayushman Bharat, which has a cover of Rs 5 lakh.
The inauguration of the converged scheme was to be held on October 1 but it has been postponed.
Replying to a cut motion jointly moved by Congress legislators P T Sawkmie, H M Shangpliang and Mayralborn Syiem, Hek said the MHIS expires on September 25 and the government may stop the policy for some time.
However, during the discussion on the matter, Shangpliang said the state government should not stop the project and instead, the policy should be extended.
“We are waiting for a reply from the Centre and we have no option than to have a break,” Hek said.
However, Shangpliang pointed out that those admitted in hospitals will be affected if there is a break.
In reply, the Health Minister said there will not be any problem for patients who are under the MHIS Phase 3 as they will continue to avail the benefits one or two months more.
Hek said once implemented, the state government will provide two cards to the beneficiaries to avail up to Rs 5 lakh to cover illness.
One card will be under Ayushman Bharat that targets special category of people who are poor and another under MHIS, which will be for all sections of people except state and central government employees.
Earlier, George Lyngdoh said since several states opted out of the Ayushman Bharat scheme due to the liability to pay more premium, the state government should go slow.
Shangpliang and Mayralborn Syiem called for rectification of mistakes in the MHIS cards and the need to give wide publicity to the scheme, especially in the rural areas of the state.
Adelbert Nongrum (KHNAM) wanted the state to set up blood banks in all the government hospitals.