Government extends health insurance scheme to farmers

Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Thursday extended the Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CHIS) to all farmers who are members of the Farmers Security Scheme. Through this initiative, farmers will get quality medical care and can carry on their work enthusiastically, an official release in Chennai said.

The Chief Minister inaugurated the CHIS on January 11 to provide insurance coverage for life threatening ailments to the poor people in the State. This scheme has enhanced the sum assured to Rs 1 lakh per year and Rs 4 lakh for a period of four years. For certain ailments, the insurance coverage is up to Rs 1.5 lakh.

Jayalalithaa allocated Rs 2.61 crore for upgrading the cobalt machines used for treating cancer patients in government hospitals in Thanjavur, Coimbatore and Tirunelveli. This measure will benefit patients hailing from poor families.

The cancer treatment division in Royapettah Government Hospital was started in 1978 and this has been upgraded as a speciality centre at a cost of Rs 17 crore. Construction of the new building for this centre is in its final stages.

The Chief Minister earmarked Rs 9.93 crore towards creating new medical and non-medical posts, purchasing medical equipment, furniture, computers and other materials required for the cancer speciality centre at Royapettah General Hospital.