₹808 Cr Paid To Families Of 1,616 Health Workers Who Died Of COVID: Govt
Mumbai: Insurance claims worth ₹808 crores has been paid to the families of 1,616 deceased healthcare workers who were involved in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, from 33 states and UTs, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said.
The insurance scheme for health workers fighting COVID-19 was launched on March 30, 2020, providing comprehensive personal accident cover of Rs 50 lakh to 22.12 lakh health care providers including community health workers and private health workers, who may have been in direct contact. Dealing with and taking care of COVID-19 patients may be at risk of being affected by it.
Mandaviya said 201 compensation claims worth Rs 100.5 crore were paid in Maharashtra, 160 claims worth Rs 80 crore were paid in Andhra Pradesh and 134 claims worth Rs 67 crore were paid in Uttar Pradesh.
Responding to a question by Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien, Mandaviya said though states have to keep separate records, only a handful of people have shared such records with the Centre.
The Union Minister said that only six out of 36 states and union territories have separate records of healthcare workers who died due to COVID-19 in the last two years. These states are Sikkim, Chandigarh, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura along with Maharashtra and Gujarat.
He said, “Covid-19 has claimed the lives of 67 doctors, 19 nurses in Maharashtra so far. In Gujarat, 20 doctors, 20 nurses, 6 ambulance drivers and 128 paramedics have lost their lives due to COVID-19.”
“Health is a state subject. The Government of India regularly maintains data on the total number of cases and deaths reported by the States/UTs. Data segregated by profession is required to be maintained by the states. Accordingly, the Central Government has requested the States/UTs to furnish the requisite details. In response, details have been received from some States/UTs and submitted,” he said.
He further said that the PMGKP Insurance Scheme for Health Workers Fighting COVID19 was extended from time to time and was last extended was for a period of 180 days with effect from October 20, 2021
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