The Insurance Scheme announced under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package for health workers who are fighting to contain COVID-19 has been extended for another three months till September.
The scheme provides an insurance cover of 50 lakh rupees to around over 22 lakh public healthcare providers. They include community health workers, who may have to be in direct contact and care of COVID-19 patients and who may be at risk of being impacted by this. Earlier the scheme was slated to end on 30th June.
The scheme is funded through the National Disaster Response
Fund, operated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Doctors, nurses, paramedics, sanitation workers and a few others working in hospitals under the central and State governments are covered under the insurance scheme.
Ward-Boys, ASHA workers and technicians are also covered by the special insurance scheme. The scheme also include accidental loss of life on account of contracting COVID-19. The insurance provided under this scheme will be over and above any other insurance cover being availed by the beneficiary.