Ghaziabad: Notices have been issued to three health officials given the responsibility of issuing Ayushman Bharat golden cards — an insurance policy of Rs 5 lakh — to beneficiaries from weaker sections of the society.
Among the six districts of Meerut division, Ghaziabad is at the bottom of the list in issuing the cards. According to records, only 17% of the beneficiaries of the Centre’s ambitious scheme have got golden cards in the district.
The notices to the three officials were issued in the very first meeting that newly appointed chief medical officer, Dr Bhavtosh Shankhdhar, held on Thursday.
He also pulled up the nodal officer of the scheme.
The Ayushman scheme was launched about two and a half years ago. Under it, 7.4 lakh people from 1.5 lakh families have been identified in the district. The benefit of the scheme was to be provided by issuing golden cards of all these families. But the health department has so far been able to issue cards to only 1.2 lakh people. In May, only 33 beneficiaries got cards.
The CMO told TOI none of the officials had any specific details regarding the beneficiaries identified in the district. “The records were completely missing and officials were giving only verbal explanation. No report has even been prepared regarding the beneficiaries who were not found in the district. I have instructed the staff to prepare a detailed report in a month. Instructions have also been given to expedite the process of making golden cards,” he added.
In Meerut division, Ghaziabad has fared the poorest, followed by Meerut, Gautam Budh Nagar and Bulandshahr.