Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package

On March 29, 2020 the centre has approved a Rs 50 lakh medical insurance scheme for healthcare workers who are dealing with coronavirus pandemic. The approval made is a part of measures under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package of Rs 1.7 lakhs announced by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

i.It provides insurance cover for 90 days to around 22.12 lakh public healthcare providers, Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers & community health workers who will have to be in direct contact with the affected patients & who may be at risk of being impacted & lose their lives.

ii.Due to the unprecedented situation, the insurance scheme will also cover private hospital staff, retirees, volunteers, contract workers, daily wagers and outsourced staff hired by the central, state governments and autonomous hospitals of Central, States, Union territories(UT), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) & hospitals of Central Ministries and the cases reported will be subject to the numbers indicated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

iii.The insurance offered under this plan will be higher than any other insurance coverage received by the beneficiary.

• The scheme will be funded by the National Disaster Response Fund(NDRF) budget which is operated by the ministry for this purpose.
• This comes at the backdrop of a 21-day lockdown in the entire country to deal with the spread of the coronavirus.