Free healthcare facilities for the poor in Gurgaon

To make healthcare affordable, the Haryana health department has proposed to make health facilities free of cost for the poor in the district.

To make healthcare affordable, the Haryana health department has proposed to make health facilities free of cost for the poor in the district.

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As per a notification dated May 8, a third category – poor – has been approved by the state health department, wherein patients can avail health facilities as a part of the surgery package programme (SPP).

The other categories approved were that of the disabled and Scheduled Caste. The notification was sent by director general Narender Arora to civil surgeons, principal medical officers and all medical officers across the state.

In the poor category, the deputy commissioner of the district has to approve the claims of the patients by verifying their total annual income.

“The criteria to prove oneself poor is the total annual income. A majority of patients in this category are usually accident victims and are unattended or unaccompanied,” said Dr Assaruddin, principal medical officer, civil hospital, Gurgaon.

“Most of these patients cannot afford basic medication. Such cases will be sent to the deputy commissioner, who will approve of their claims. The expenditure will be reimbursed to the district hospital,” said Assaruddin.

Patients under the disabled and Scheduled Caste categories have to produce their handicap allowance, pension and caste certificates and the Haryana resident certificate to avail the facilities.

Meanwhile, officials in the health department are pressing for the setting up of a five-member committee comprising the civil surgeon, principal medical officer, specialists and nurses, who will approve the claims on the merit of individual cases.