Meghalaya increases MHIS coverage to Rs 60K for COVID-19 patients

Shillong: Meghalaya government on Thursday decided to increase coverage of the Megha Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS) from Rs 4,900 upto Rs 60,000 for COVID-19 patients.

Addressing the media, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said: “These decisions were taken on basis of immediate relief extended to concerned beneficiaries.”

This comes exactly two days after Health Minister AL Hek said the government will take a decision on the issue after the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) had written to the CM to sanction a special scheme for COVID-19 patients to cover their expenses for treatment in all the private and government hospitals across the state.

The FKJGP had petitioned that some private hospitals are trying to take advantage of the COVID-19 situation. As such, family members of those affected by COVID-19 are hesitating to go for testing & medical treatment fearing high costs.

Also Read | Expenses of COVID-19 patients under MHIS: Meghalaya govt to decide in 2 days

Until Thursday, the entitlement of one MHIS beneficiary who gets admitted in the hospital and is taken to ICU was about Rs 4,900 per day.

Tynsong said, “It is disappointing to see that enrollment till today covers only 58.5% beneficiaries. Government urges people who are eligible to get this scheme to enroll for this scheme.”

The DCM also informed that the government has decided to construct two prefab Corona health facilities in the state. He said that two facilities will come up in Shillong and Tura.

He added that for setting up these two, the Union government through the Ministry of DoNER has provided Rs 6.7 crore to the state for setting up. Both these facilities will have a capacity of 100 beds each.