President lauds Arunachal's health insurance scheme

President Pranab Mukherjee has lauded the Chief Minister's Universal Health Insurance Scheme launched in Arunachal Pradesh and termed it as one of the most benevolent ever launched.
Mukherjee, who was apprised of the scheme by Chief Minister Nabam Tuki during a courtsey call at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday, said it could be replicated by other states successfully to help the needy and the poor, an official communique said here today.
The Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister's Universal Health Insurance Scheme was launched on September 16, 2014 and a total 1,61,000 families have been enrolled till date.
The main objective of the scheme is to provide free medical and surgical treatment, except outdoor patients facility, in government and private hospitals in cashless manner using biometric embedded smart card.

The enrolment of beneficiaries was started on July 1, 2014 and distribution of smartcard is almost complete in all the districts.
The President congratulated Tuki, who elaborated other schemes taken by his government for the development of Arunachal and welfare of its people, for the effort and sincerity in putting into place a seamless health delivery system.
Tuki also updated Mukherjee on the progress of Prime Minister's special package in the state besides implementation of all central and state government flagship programmes, the communique said.
Tuki invited the President to visit the state, to which Mukherjee agreed in principle and assured to visit the north eastern state sometime later this year, the communique added.