Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Launches Free Treatment Scheme

On Saturday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin launched Innuyir Kaapom, a scheme that would ensure the government pay for the medical bills of all accident victims who seek treatment in enlisted hospitals within 48 hours of the accident. All medical care services will be covered under the scheme. 

People can avail the benefits in 609 hospitals – 204 government hospitals and 405 private hospitals – across the State.  Those who are ineligible for the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS) would be covered under the scheme as well. The free treatment will be offered in collaboration with the Department of Highways and Department of Transportation. 

Passwords were distributed to representatives of 18 hospitals during a ceremony held in Chengalpattu district, in the presence of Health Minister Ma Subramanian and other officials from the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. 

The scheme provides around 81 recognized life-saving procedures to victims with a maximum cover of up to Rs.1 lakh, and the gesture will encompass both beneficiaries of the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS) and non-members. 

According to the government, accident victims in Tamil Nadu and others visiting the state would be supplied with free medical care for the first 48 hours. 

Beneficiaries of CMCHIS will be permitted to continue treatment at the same hospital, while individuals who are not covered under this scheme or any insurance scheme would be treated for free at government hospital after this or her condition is stabilized, a release said. 

The state will now focus on identifying accident hotspots.

Following that, neighboring private hospitals will be enrolled for the scheme. 

Choice of hospitalization (after stabilization) is offered to the victim to opt for payment through health insurance or self in case the victim seeks to be shifted to a hospital of his or her choice.