PANAJI
The Goa government on Tuesday launched the Chief Minister’s Medical Assistance Cell scheme, offering financial support of up to Rs 2 lakh to eligible residents for medical treatment.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the scheme would provide assistance of up to 30 per cent of treatment costs, subject to a maximum limit of Rs 2 lakh. The benefit will be available to persons who have been residing in Goa for the past 15 years.
Describing the scheme as a people-centric welfare initiative, Sawant said it aims to reduce the financial burden on families facing medical emergencies. Beneficiaries will receive assistance after submitting the required documents and completing the application process.
The scheme allows both online and offline applications and citizens can obtain information on it through the dedicated helpline number 14524. Application forms are also being made available with the Department of Planning and Statistics and can also be accessed through the Goa Online portal.
Sawant said the new scheme would further strengthen Goa’s healthcare safety net. The State, he said, already implements several health insurance and assistance programmes, including the Deendayal Swasthya Seva Yojana (DDSSY), Mediclaim and Ayushman Bharat.
Highlighting the success of DDSSY, Sawant said more than 2.71 lakh people have benefited from the scheme since its launch by former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. The government spends nearly Rs 70 crore annually on its implementation.
Sawant also pointed to the State’s wider healthcare ecosystem, noting that free treatment is available at various health centres and at the Goa Medical College and Hospital.
Preventive healthcare initiatives, including regular health screening programmes and Ayurveda-based wellness campaigns, are also being conducted across the State, he added.
Claiming that Goa offers some of the best healthcare facilities in the country, the Chief Minister said the government remains committed to expanding access to affordable and quality medical care.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, Chief Secretary Dr V Candavelou, Health Secretary Yatindra Maralkar, Pranav Bhatt, and other senior officials attended the launch function.
The new assistance cell is expected to provide an additional layer of financial support to patients, particularly those requiring costly medical treatment not fully covered under existing schemes.
