Health activists have opposed the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) well being division’s transfer to implement a time restrict to residents availing the advantages of the Urban Poor Health Scheme (UPHS). A time restrict of solely the primary 4 months of the monetary yr (April to July, 2024) has been applied by the PMC well being division for availing the advantages of the UPHS, officers mentioned.

Earlier, these eligible for the scheme would register with the PMC and UPHS playing cards can be issued to them all year long. Now nonetheless, the well being division has determined to challenge UPHS playing cards just for the primary 4 months of the monetary yr. Activists have opposed the transfer saying it’ll deprive hundreds of needy sufferers of the advantages of the scheme.

The PMC initiated the UPHS a decade in the past with the goal of offering free or discounted medical therapy to the economically weaker part at affiliated hospitals. The scheme was beforehand restricted to residents with an annual revenue of ₹1 lakh but it surely was later expanded to cowl residents with an annual revenue of ₹2 lakh in 2019. Under the scheme, the PMC bears the price of therapy as much as ₹1 lakh whereas it bears the price of therapy as much as ₹2 lakh in case of crucial sickness. The civic authority spends roughly ₹50 to 60 crores on the scheme every year.

Dr Abhijit More, well being activist, mentioned that the newest resolution needs to be scrapped by the PMC as it’s unjust. “Many a time, citizens are unaware of the scheme and learn about it only when they approach private hospitals for treatment at discounted rates,” he mentioned.

“Rather, the PMC should focus on creating more awareness about the scheme. The PMC intends to stop the scheme and replace it by involving an insurance company. Implementation of a time limit will pass on the benefits of the scheme to a limited number of citizens who are close to elected members and aware of the scheme, depriving the actually needy patients,” Dr More mentioned.

Dr Bhagwan Pawar, well being officer of the PMC, mentioned, “If there is resistance from health activists and citizens regarding the changes, we will discuss the issue during the upcoming committee meeting. The final decision will be taken by the committee.”