Chandigarh, February 4, 2020 (Yes Punjab News)
Taking grave notice of reports regarding scanners failed to detect fingerprints for the biometric identification of beneficiaries to generate e-cards under SSBY (Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojna), the Health Minister Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu instructed the all the Civil Surgeons to make people aware about that all empanelled hospitals have already equipped with iris scanners to register beneficiaries, if fingerprint scanner will fail to detect the skin abrasion.
Mr. Balbir Singh informed that beneficiaries can get registered using this alternative method and appropriate provisions are already available in the software wherein the beneficiaries can be enrolled either through fingerprint reader or iris scanner.
He said that instructions have already been issued to all empanelled hospitals in this regard and strict action would be taken against the health establishments if found any laxity.
The Minister reiterated that Captain Amarinder Singh led Punjab Government is committed to cover every eligible beneficiary of SSBY so as to ensure the quality health services at the doorsteps of needy patients.
He said that Chief Minister had launched this flagship scheme from 20 August, 2019 and in just 5 months, State Health Agency has issued the 40,83,715 e-cards to the beneficiaries. “To expedite this process, the Punjab Government has also hired new agency to generating e-cards”, he added.
Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu said that health services of worth Rs 147.10 cr. have been provided to 1,36,425 patients so far under this scheme. Of these, more than 2462 have availed the treatment of heart surgery, 2183 have undergone cancer treatment and 3720 elderly have got joint replacement.
