Provision of Rs five crore for sickness assistance fund

Bhopal, Nov 5 (UNI) The Madhya Pradesh Government has increased provision towards state sickness assistance fund by Rs 1.92 crore to Rs five crore this year from 2004-05 and 2005-06.

The provision will be used for treatment of 16 identified diseases instead of 13 diseases. Three diseases related to brain, nuero surgery and MDR were included, an official release here said yesterday.

Earlier identified diseases include diseases related to cancer surgery, renal surgery, knee replacement, breast surgery, hip replacement, surgery related to head injury, parts transplantation, spinal surgery, post delivery complications, coma, retinal detachment, heart surgery, industrial accidents, bomb explosion, natural calamities and accidents occurred due to agricultural equipments.

An allocation of Rs 2.66 crore has been made for the district sickness assistance fund, while Rs 2.34 crore has been kept for state level committee.

More than 3,000 people, living below poverty line, had been benefited under the state sickness assistance fund plan in the state so far.

Under the scheme, a minimum assistance of Rs 25,000 and a maximum of Rs 1.5 lakh is provided for treatment of the patient and is paid directly to recognised hospitals in the country.

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