The Indian government’s insurance policy for health personnel fighting COVID-19 has been extended for another 180 days.
The central government said in an order: “The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan (PMGKP) Scheme: Insurance Scheme for Healthcare Workers Battling COVID-19 has been extended for another 180 days from April 19. 2022”.
It was decided to expand the policy to continue to provide a safety net for dependents of health workers who are delegated to care for COVID-19 patients.
The PMGKP insurance policy was launched on March 30, 2020 to provide Rs 5 million comprehensive personal accident insurance assistance to 2.1 million healthcare providers including all healthcare workers who may have a direct contact and treatment with a COVID patient and who are at risk.
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A letter to this effect was sent to all Additional Chief Secretaries (Health), Principal Secretaries (Health) and Secretaries of Health of all States and Union Territories on April 19, 2022, requesting widespread exposure of personnel healthcare in their own respective states and union territories. .
The government indicated, private hospital staff, volunteers, local urban bodies, outsourced staff on daily wages requisitioned by state or central hospitals, AIIMS and the Institute of National Importance (INI) of central ministries specifically written for the care of covid patients.
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So far, 1,905 claims from health workers who died on COVID-related duties have been settled since the program was established.
However, the country recently reported 1,247 new COVID cases in the past 24 hours, about 43% lower than the previous day. According to the ministry, 928 patients have recovered from the past 24 hours.