Punjab government introduces digitised healthcare card for school students for free treatment

Punjab government has introduced a digitised healthcare card for all school students in the state, which will provide them free treatment for 30 life-threatening diseases.

The Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Surjit Kumar Jayani had launched this comprehensive full profile digitised health care card recently.

Jayani also assured that over 15 lakh children in 26,115 Anganwadi Centres and over 29 lakh children in the 19,999 schools of Punjab would be issued cards under this project.

A full body check-up of all students would be conducted in every three months and they would be provided free treatment for 30 life threatening diseases.

As per leading daily reports, Vini Mahajan, Principal Secretary, Health & Finance, informed that dedicated medical teams have been formed at all the block levels for carrying out free medical check-ups of all the children of upto 18-years-old, studying in government and government aided schools of Punjab as well as Anganwadi centres in the state.

Each team will comprise two medical officers, one pharmacist and one staff nurse who shall conduct check-up twice a year.

She also said that the children, who are found suffering with any ailment, shall be referred to the nearest government hospitals for further treatment.

All children in government schools, aided schools and Anganwadi centres shall also be examined for 30 different kinds of major diseases and ailments including cancer, heart diseases, ENT, dental, eye and psychiatric issues and any child found suffering with any of these diseases will be given free of cost treatment in the government or government empanelled hospitals, informed sources.

Meanwhile, Mahajan further said that it has been observed that nearly 6 per cent children are suffering with weak eyesight and therefore special arrangement are being made for thorough eye check up of such children.

School teachers are also being sensitised to recognise primary indications of weak eye sight among children so that as and when required ophthalmic officers could be sent to schools for check-ups and providing free spectacles to children detected with weak eye sight.