Bihar govt to provide funds to poor patients for treatment in Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 26 (UNI) The Bihar Government has raised a 'Chief Minister Treatment Assistance Fund' to provide financial assistance of over Rs 15,2 lakh to 15 poor patients suffering from serious diseases like cancer, heart ailment, brain tumor, HIV/AIDS and kidney problems.

The Fund has been raised on the initiative of Chief Minsiter Nitish Kumar and would provide financial assistance to any one suffering from serious ailments and even those requiring hip and knee replacement and spinal surgery. Resident Commissioner C K Mishra of Bihar has been authorised to disburse the treatment grants.

The Fund has been raised as patients coming from Bihar to New Delhi generally are in a very desperate situation and making trips between Delhi and Bihar for sanctioning of grants becomes very difficult for them. So the need was felt to simplify the sanctioning procedure.

Now under the new process, those below poverty line and above poverty line, but having annual income of not more than Rs one lakh, have to procure an estimate of their treatment either from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences or from the hospitals recognised under CGHS. Then they would have to procure the sanction of the relevant authority.

For those below poverty line, the sanctioning power lies with the District Magistrate. In case of patient belonging to above poverty line, a committee headed by Director, Health Service is authorised.

For disbursing expenditure amount under set standard to the patients being treated in New Delhi, the Resident Commissioner was fully authorised. Before disbursing the amount he would verify the sanctions of the authorised authority, annual income certificate issued by the District Magistrate, resident certificate and photo identity card.

UNI