PMGKP Insurance scheme for COVID Healthcare Workers extended by 1 year

In a letter dated 20.04.2021, the Department of Health and Family Welfare, operative under the Government of India has directed the New India Assurance Company Limited (NIACL) to extend the policy for a period of one year.

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that taking note of the second wave of COVID, Indian Medical Association (IMA) had submitted a letter to the Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, Rajesh Bhushan requesting the authorities to extend the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) insurance benefit for another 6 months.

IMA had also expressed its concern over families of only 168 doctors, out of at least 756 who died during Covid-19 duty in India receiving the benefit of the PMGKP insurance scheme that was introduced by the government with the objective of enabling the families f martyred health care professional to receive financial support to the tune of 50 lakhs. The total number of claims settled is 287, which suggests that families of only 119 healthcare workers across other categories have benefitted from this.

Though IMA had lauded the efforts of the government for introducing the insurance scheme for the benefit of the health care professionals, it pointed that out of the 756 modern medicine doctors who had sacrificed their life, only 168 out of them could reach out to this benefit.

Also Read: IMA seeks extension of Rs 50 lakh PMGKP insurance scheme for COVID martyrs by 6 months

Now, as per the recent letter, the Deputy General Manager of NIACL, Jitender Mehndiratta has been directed as, "You are requested to resume the scheme with immediate effect, i.e. from today. The funds shall be released as soon as possible."

Also Read: Govt extends Insurance Scheme for Health Workers Fighting COVID-19 for another 6 months

Informing about the decision to extend the policy for one year, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Harsh Vardhan wrote on Twitter, "During the #CoronavirusPandemic, Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package(PMGKP) has provided a safety net to the dependents of #CoronaWarriors who lost their lives to #COVID19

I'm glad to announce that this scheme has now been extended for a period of one year with effect from today."

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package(PMGKP) was announced on March 2020 and was extended thrice till 24 April '21. The scheme aimed at providing a safety net to health workers to ensure that in case of any adversity due to #COVID19, their families are taken care of.

Insurance cover of Rs. 50 Lakhs is provided under the PMKGP scheme. This has provided a safety net to the dependents of Corona warriors who lost their lives to #COVID. 287 claims have been paid by the Insurance Company so far. The Scheme played a crucial psychological role as well in boosting the morale of the Health Workers fighting #COVID19.

However, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had announced earlier that "The claims under PMGKP will be settled by the Insurance Company till 24th of April 2021. Thereafter a new dispensation will be provided to cover the Corona Warriors, for which the Ministry is in talks with the Insurance Company (New India Assurance)."