The Punjab government on Monday introduced a digitised health care card for all school students that would make them eligible for free treatment of 30 life-threatening diseases.
Announcing this on Monday here, health and family welfare minister Surjit Kumar Jyani said over 15 lakh children in 26,115 anganwadi centres and more than 29 lakh children in 19,999 schools of Punjab would be issued cards under the pilot project.
He said that under the plan, full body check-up of all students would be conducted every three months and they would be provided free treatment for 30 life-threatening diseases.
Principal secretary (health and finance) Vini Mahajan here said dedicated medical teams had been formed at all block levels for smoothly carrying out free medical check-up of all the children of up to 18, studying in government and government-aided schools of Punjab as well as in anganwadi centres in the state.
Each team comprising two medical officers, a pharmacist and a staff nurse will conduct check-up twice a year. There are around 15 lakh children in the 26,115 anganwadi centres and around 29 lakh children in the 19,999 schools of Punjab, who would benefit from this service.
She said children, who are found suffering from any ailment, would be referred to the nearest government hospitals for further treatment. She said all children in government and aided schools and anganwadi centres would also be examined for 30 different kinds of major diseases and ailments, including cancer, heart diseases, ENT, dental, eye and psychiatric issues and any child found suffering from any of these diseases would be given free-of-cost treatment in the government or government empanelled hospitals.
{{/usCountry}}She said children, who are found suffering from any ailment, would be referred to the nearest government hospitals for further treatment. She said all children in government and aided schools and anganwadi centres would also be examined for 30 different kinds of major diseases and ailments, including cancer, heart diseases, ENT, dental, eye and psychiatric issues and any child found suffering from any of these diseases would be given free-of-cost treatment in the government or government empanelled hospitals.
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