President Droupadi Murmu to launch health screening scheme on November 29 in Haryana

GURUGRAM: President Droupadi Murmu , on November 29, will launch the scheme for door-to-door screening of health issues and diseases as part of the Haryana government's Mukhya Mantri Swasthya Sarvekshan Yojna (MMSSY).

The first phase of the scheme will involve free health check-ups for families with annual income lower than Rs 1.8 lakhs, with beneficiaries estimated to be around 1.06 crore across the state.

Initially, 32 health care units will start the drive, which later will expand to 2,000 units. The check-ups are meant to be done at least once every two years for every beneficiary.

The scheme will be inaugurated by the President at the District Civil Hospital in Kurukshetra. IIt was announced by chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar at his budget speech earlier this year.

"It was decided that in the 1st phase, the families having income less than Rs. 1.8 lakhs (antyodaya families) be taken up as beneficiaries while the rest of the population be covered in subsequent phases," said Sonia Trikha, director general of health services, Haryana.

In the drive, the samples for lab tests and investigations will be collected, labelled and transported to the nearest health facility for processing and testing. In case the patient is referred for any specialist opinion, he/she will be referred to the nearest sub-divisional hospital.

If a disease or ailment is diagnosed and can be treated at the available facility, the doctor can write a prescription that can be disbursed.

There will be a team leader in every district, who will be designated as coordinator and will facilitate the drive.

Details like family history, immunisation status and history of contact with TB patients will be collected from every beneficiary apart from the check-up. The drive will include mandatory screening for haemoglobin levels, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes and other blood markets.

"It is very crucial that diseases are detected at the earliest to reduce the burden on the patient's families. We will not just provide screening, but also provide free treatment to these families," the director general of health services said.