Amritsar, February 7 (K. L. Jit Walia):- The Punjab government’s ₹10 lakh Health Card Scheme, launched with the objective of providing better healthcare facilities to the general public, is a commendable initiative. However, serious issues are emerging at the ground level regarding its implementation. S. Tarsem Singh, Senior Vice President of Amritsar-based social organisation Majha Welfare Society, has alleged that health cards are not being issued to senior citizens above the age of 70 and to individuals living alone.
S. Tarsem Singh stated that when several members of the organisation and needy citizens visited various centres to get their health cards made, they were clearly told that health cards are not being issued to people above 70 years of age. In addition, individuals who live alone, whose children have been residing abroad for many years, or who do not have family registration records are also being deprived of the benefits of this scheme.
He said that this section of society is the one that needs healthcare facilities the most. Senior citizens often suffer from serious illnesses, and due to living alone, they face financial as well as mental difficulties during treatment. Denying them an essential facility like a health card goes completely against the basic objective of the scheme.
Tarsem Singh further said that if such conditions continue, the benefits of the scheme will remain limited only to those who already have family support and financial resources. He urged the Punjab Government and the Health Department to immediately remove these conditions imposed during the health card registration process.
He made a special appeal that health cards for senior citizens above 70 years of age and people living alone should be issued on a priority basis, so that the scheme truly becomes a boon for the needy, helpless and elderly citizens.
KL JIT WALIA
