BS RAWAT
The Central government has come up with a new healthcare scheme for Covid-19 victims, Parliament has been informed.

Union Minister of State for Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey has said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha that a provision has been made under ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package for Health Workers Fighting Covid-19′.

The scheme provides an insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh to healthcare providers, including community health workers, who may have to be in direct contact and care of Covid-19 patients and who may be at risk of being impacted by this. It will also include accidental loss of life on account of contracting Covid-19, the minister said.

The scheme also covers private hospital staff/ retired/volunteer/ local urban bodies/contract/daily wage/ ad-hoc/outsourced staff requisitioned by States/ Central hospitals/autonomous hospitals of Central/States/UTs, AIIMS & INIs/ hospitals of Central Ministries drafted for COVID-19 related responsibilities, he informed.

The insurance provided under this scheme would be over and above any other insurance cover being availed of by the beneficiary, Mr Choubey added.