Only 20 percent Insurance Money under PMGKP scheme got disbursed to kin of doctors died serving during COVID-19, reveals RTI

New Delhi: In a shocking revelation, a Right to Information Act (RTI) reply from New India Assurance Company Ltd. pointed out that the dependents of doctors, who died serving the nation in the Covid-19 battle, have received only 20% of the total money promised under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) Insurance Scheme.

Although the scheme ensured an insurance coverage of Rs 50 lakh each, the Insurance Company while replying to the RTI revealed on September 16 that as on August 31, the total number of beneficiaries under the PMGKP scheme was 1,962 and around Rs 981 crore has been disbursed for this purpose.

Among this, 424 beneficiaries of doctors got compensation and for this Rs 212 crore has been disbursed until now, reports The Hindu.

However, the company did not reveal any State wise data as it stated that "neither such information is available nor required to be maintained by this Public Authority, hence cannot be provided". The information in this regard was made available by the Union Health Ministry.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported about the PMGKP scheme, which was announced on March 2020. 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. Earlier, while referring to the scheme, the Union Health Ministry had mentioned that the scheme had provided a safety net to the dependents of Corona warriors who lost their lives to COVID-19. The Scheme played a crucial psychological role as well in boosting the morale of the Health Workers fighting the COVID battle.

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

As per the latest media report by The Hindu, recently responding to a RTI application, the New India Assurance Company Ltd. revealed 424 beneficiaries of doctors got compensation and for this Rs 212 crore has been disbursed until now. The data shared by the Company further reveals that as on August 31, the total number of beneficiaries under the PMGKP scheme was 1,962 and around Rs 981 crore has been disbursed in this regard.

Therefore, the beneficiaries of doctors who died in the COVID-19 battle have received only 20 percent of the total Rs 50 lakh that was promised to each of them.

Speaking about this, Kannur-based ophthalmologist and RTI activist, Dr. K.V. Babu recently told The Hindu, "Just over 21.5% of the money disbursed under the PMGKP has been given to doctors. As per the data collected by the Indian Medical Association, over 1,800 doctors have died in the line of COVID-19 duty. This means over 75% of doctors who succumbed to the infection have not benefited from the scheme because a majority of them were not working in COVID-designated hospitals."

He further mentioned that a special leave petition filed before the Supreme Court became important in this regard. Initially the plea had been filed before the Bombay HC by the spouse of a doctor who died during the pandemic.

The concerned doctor used to run his private clinic and had been directed by the authorities for keeping his clinic open during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, his dependents were allegedly denied the insurance cover.

Allowing the plea, the court observed that the issue had been raised as a matter of significant public importance since it related to the assured insurance cover that the Union Government promised to the health professionals who served during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The daily adds that in another RTI reply on September 8, the Insurance Company stated that 974 people got the compensation of Rs 487 crore and among this Rs 103 crore was disbursed for 206 doctors.

Previously, the Company on August 5 had informed that 445 beneficiaries had been "compensated for the doctors" who lost their life due to COVID-19 and for this Rs 222.5 crore had been disbursed as compensation.

Also Read: PMGKP Insurance scheme for COVID Healthcare Workers extended by 1 year