‘Provide social security cover to NHM, ASHA employees’
Excelsior Correspondent
Leh, Sept 18: The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, RK Mathur, chaired the Governing Body meeting of the State Health Society at Raj Niwas.
Chairman, LAHDC Leh, Advocate Tashi Gyalson; Executive Councillor, LAHDC Kargil, Mohsin Ali; Principal Secretary, Dr Pawan Kotwal; Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM), Dr Iftikhar Ahmad Chowdhary; Director Health Services Ladakh, Dr Motup Dorjey and other head of departments (HoDs) were present in the meeting.
Mission Director NHM Dr Iftikhar informed about the sanctioning of a budget of Rs.184.4 crores by Govt of India for Ladakh under NHM for the financial year (FY) 2022-23. He further informed about extending social security benefits and welfare funds to its more than 1200 employees under Records of Proceeding (RoP).
He apprised that the NHM employees would be enrolled under various welfare and social security schemes of the Government of India. He submitted the proposal to provide ex-gratia to the next of kin of the deceased NHM employee on duty; Rs 5 lakh to NHM employee in case of more than 50% disability due to an accident; ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the family of ASHA workers in case of death and Rs 2 lakh to ASHA workers in case of more than 50% disability due to an accident.
Dr Iftikhar also informed about various new initiatives under NHM for the Financial Year 2022-2023 and 2023-24, including sanctioning of a cardiac care unit for SNM Hospital in Leh; blood banks at Community Health Centre (CHC) Diskit, Padum, Khaltsi and Drass; procurement of cervical carcinoma vaccine for females in the 9-14 age group; enhancement in mobility support for ASHA workers; upgradation of 320 Sub Centres (SCs) and PHCs in Leh and Kargil to Health and Wellness Centres (H&WCs); approval of operational cost for 32 additional ambulances approved for 108, i.e. National Ambulance Service; installation of 4 satellite equipment for improved internet connectivity in advanced life support (ALS) and mobile medical unit (MMU) ambulances; construction of underground cold chain facilities at 5 block headquarters; construction of staff quarters at CHC Diskit, Khaltsi and Chiktan; replacement of existing building of New Type Primary Health Centre NTPHC) at Himya and Anley Khaldo; construction of staff quarters at PHC Korzok, Chushul and Tangtse; installation of central heating systems at PHC Chushul, Trespone, Hanu and Bogdang; construction of 18 Sub Health Centres and strengthening of manpower, etc.
LG Mathur suggested that social security cover and welfare schemes, including Atal Pension Yojana, may be extended to NHM and ASHA workers for their benefit. He further suggested that the blood banks at CHC Khaltsi, Diskit, Padum and Drass may be established in the current financial year and trauma centres at these CHCs may be made fully functional. He directed that the central heating systems at all the health centres as well as heating for residences may be made fully functional before the onset of the winter.
LG Mathur directed the concerned officials to ensure that all residents of Ladakh are covered under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) and Universal Health Insurance schemes to enable people of the region to avail of benefits of insurance coverage and reimbursement for a patient along with the attendant in case the patient is referred to any empanelled hospital outside Ladakh.
Follow our WhatsApp channel