In a major push towards health supportive reforms, the Kerala State Pharmacy Council has decided to implement health insurance scheme for all the registered pharmacists and their family members.

The coverage will also be benefited to the members of pharmacy council forums and non-pharmacist proprietors and owners of pharmacies on account of their long experience and association with pharmacy profession. The Council has signed an MoU with United India Insurance Company in this regard.

The enrollment of pharmacists to the scheme will commence from September this year and it will benefit about 47 thousand registered pharmacists in the state, said B Rajan, president of the Council.

“The council proposes to cover all registered pharmacists under the insurance scheme by the year 2013-14. With this health scheme, all the registered pharmacists in Kerala will be able to avail the benefits of cashless treatment. The premium for the scheme is very low compared to any other health insurance available at present. In the scheme, all the diseases including chronic, will be covered. Maximum age limit for taking policy is 70 years and the scheme is life long,” said the Council president.

Apart from insured amount, the benefits include ambulance charge of Rs.2000 in case of emergency and free accessibility of IP rooms, ICU and reimbursement of claims for treatment in non-net work hospitals. Maternity benefit covered upto Rs.15000 for normal delivery and Rs.25000 for caesarian. Expenses incurred for 30 days before hospitalization and for 60 days after it are also eligible to be availed through the scheme.

The premium for the insured amount starts with Rs.2300 for Rs.one lakh, Rs.2875 for two lakhs, Rs.3450 for three lakhs, Rs.4025 for four lakhs and Rs.4425 for five lakhs. The medical stores and whole sale premises can also be insured through the scheme, said B Rajan.

All the benefits are in addition to the common insurance benefits of Rs.two lakhs for critical care and Rs.one lakh for accidental death.