New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry is in talks with New India Assurance Company Limited to chalk out the modalities to provide Rs 50 lakh insurance benefit to the health workers fighting infectious diseases.
"We are in talks with the New India Assurance Company Limited and hopefully all the modalities will be worked out soon," said Luv Agarwal, joint secretary in the Health Ministry on Sunday.
Central Government has engaged India's largest public sector general insurance company to look into the insurance factor of all who are engaged fight against Covid-19.
The insurance policy was announced by the government recently under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package as India hit by Covid-19 outbreak.
The police will provide an insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh for ninety days to a total of around 22.12 lakh public healthcare providers, including community health workers, who may have to be in direct contact or care of Covid-19 patients and who may be at risk of being impacted by this.
"It will also include accidental loss of life on account of contacting Covid-19," an approval order issued by the health ministry said.
The order further said that on account of unprecedented situation, private hospital staff, retired, volunteer, local urban bodies, contract, daily wage, ad-hoc, outsourced staff requisition by states, central hospital, autonomous hospital of central/state and UTs, AIIMS, and INIs, hospital of central ministries can also be drafted for Covid-19 related responsibilities.
"The insurance provided under this scheme would be over and above any other insurance cover being availed by the beneficiary," the government order said.
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