JOIN USOver 50,000 patients got help from CM's relief fund
The Fund was set up with the objective of funding medical treatment of people below poverty line. Several public sector enterprises and private organisations contribute money to the fund. Over 50,000 poor have obtained help for treatment of dreaded diseases in the last three years.
Availing financial help has been made easy and transparent over the years. Suitable checks and balances have been put in place to curb misuse of the facility.
Technology has come in handy in ensuring equitable distribution of money. The beneficiary should furnish medical bills (in original) after treatment. The application seeking financial help goes through multi-level clearances, on the lines of the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. The money is now being directly paid to the hospitals concerned.
The measures were necessitated as there were instances of obtaining money by producing fake and fraudulent bills.
Immediate assistance
In several cases, the assistance has been sanctioned immediately after receipt of application. Money will usually be paid within three to four days of submitting the original bill and BPL card.
There is no scope for the hassle of running from pillar to post seeking financial help.
The maximum time taken is one week and not beyond that said, deputy secretary to Chief Minister, Dr H R Mahadev. Cheques are issued even if the application is received through post in respect of genuine cases. He said priority is being given to to children suffering from terminal diseases.
An inquiry has revealed the role of hospitals in obtaining money through fake bills. There have also been cases of hospitals charging exorbitantly once they come to know that patient gets money from the Relief Fund. Such hospitals have been issued warnings of stringent action.
The quantum of assistance ranged from Rs three lakh to Rs four lakh during the tenure of H D Kumaraswamy as chief minister. Now it has gone up to Rs six lakh in needy cases, Mahadev added.