New India Assurance implemented a scheme that was to be terminated on 30 June as a part of Rs 1.70 lakh Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan package. Due to rising cases of COVID-19, the government has extended Rs 50 lakh Insurance Scheme for 22 lakh HealthCare providers until September 2020.
The insurance provides a comprehensive personal accident cover of Rs 50 lakh to a total of around 22.12 lakh public healthcare providers, including community health workers, who may have to be in direct contact and care of patients suffering from coronavirus infection and who may be at risk of being impacted by this.
Insurance Scheme for health workers in government hospitals and healthcare centers operationalized with effect from March 30, 2020, an official statement said, adding the scheme has been extended up to September.
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 will be covered under the insurance scheme.
While announcing the scheme, the Finance Minister had said, safai karamcharis, ward-boys, nurses, ASHA workers, paramedics, technicians, doctors and specialists, and other health workers would be covered by the special insurance scheme.
