Chandigarh : Punjab has been battling financial crunch, but austerity seems to be meant only for the common man as the government has recently almost doubled the allowance for treatment of its ministers, legislators, former MLAs and their dependants.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed with 33 top corporate hospitals of the region and the empanelment rates — those applicable under the Central Government Health Scheme — would be double than that for the government staff. Among others, Medanta, Gurgaon; Delhi-based Escorts and Centre for Sight and Max and Fortis hospitals in Mohali are on the empanelment list.
The VIPs and employees were earlier paid equally at rates charged by PGI, Chandigarh, and AIIMS, New Delhi. Sources said the move was initiated by the state department of parliamentary affairs and a brief given to the health department was to “empanel all top hospitals of the region”.