As per reports, the Punjab government has rolled out an ambitious scheme for free medical treatment up to Rs 10 lakh for every family in the State. The USP of the scheme is that, irrespective of the type of illness, patients have only to produce their health card to avail of free cashless treatment in hospitals.
In sharp contrast, Goa has the ‘Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana’ scheme for free medical treatment up to Rs 2.5-3 lakh per family of two or more, but limited to operations only, and only in a few private hospitals. The much-touted ‘PM-JAY Ayushman’ free medical treatment scheme up to Rs 5 lakh for senior citizens, 70 years and above, has also flopped miserably, as no hospital entertains such cards. People in Goa as a result now have to flock to the overcrowded Goa Medical College (GMC) for free treatment.
In view of the high cost of medical treatment in private hospitals, it would be much appreciated if the Goa government provides some medical relief for families in Goa with some scheme on the lines of the Punjab government or something similar, in the near future.
