FM Announces Rs 50 Lakh Medical Insurance For COVID-19 Health Workers

On Thursday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a Rs 50 lakh medical insurance cover for health workers involved the frontline of managing the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Special Insurance Scheme will include doctors, nurses, sanitation staff, ward-boys, paramedics, technicians, ASHA workers and specialists involved in controlling and fighting the outbreak. It is expected to benefit 22 lakh individuals across India.

For the scheme, Asha workers refer to community health worker instituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as a part of the National Rural Health Mission.

As those working closely with patients are at a higher risk of contracting the disease, all health professionals who while treating Covid-19 patients or if they meet with an accident would be compensated with an amount of Rs 50 lakh under the scheme. This will help with their hospitalisation and treatment.

All government health centres, wellness centres and hospitals of Centre as well as States would be covered under this medical insurance scheme.