SHILLONG: The implementation of the fourth phase of Megha Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS IV) in convergence with Ayushman Bharat scheme of the central government will be delayed as the government is now left with no other option but to go for retendering.
Informing this on Tuesday, Health and Family Welfare Minister AL Hek said the government would try to launch the scheme before Christmas, “probably in the third week of December”.
Pravin Bakshi, the Secretary of Health and Family Department, said the department had called for tender and the lowest bidder quoted rates which were high.
The minister said details of the bid were almost as double as MHIS-III, adding that the lowest bidder quoted Rs 1,999 as the premium amount for the packages while the rate in Phase III was Rs 911.
According to Bakshi, the Centre has fixed a base premium amount of Rs 1,050 and with that amount, it has projected Rs 65 crore for the scheme this year while with the rate of Rs 1,999, the total project cost would come to Rs 117 crore.
He said there are 2,560 packages under the MHIS whereas there are 1,300 packages under Ayushman Bharat.
“We want the scheme to be as good as MHIS-III,” Bakshi said while adding that the under the scheme, the government wants to cover almost 8 lakh households in the state.
The coverage period of the MHIS-III was extended on two occasions and it means that it would be discontinued till the time MHIS-IV in convergence with Ayushman Bharat is rolled out in the state.
