Patna, March 22: Chief minister Nitish Kumar launched the mega health scheme Nayee Peedhi Swasthya Guarantee Karyakram, (New generation Health Guarantee Programme) as part of Bihar Divas celebrations today.

The state health minister, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, announced the cards would soon be launched for students, physically challenged, widows and also for senior citizens.

During a news conference in the state capital today, Choubey also said the government will also provide a health card to all members of a family in the next few years.

“As part of its Bihar Divas celebrations, Nitish Kumar has launched a mega health scheme targeted at the 3.4 crore children in Bihar. Under the scheme, children up to 14 years and adolescent girls will be provided a health card for their medical check-ups and treatment free of cost at government hospitals. This card will work as a record of all the ailments among the children and will be later digitalised into chips. This mega health scheme will check malnutrition, anaemia and childhood reproductive problems,” said Choubey.

He also said the government planned to distribute health cards by October 2 this year.

The health minister, however, admitted that it would be a “challenging task” to reach out to all children of the state.

“Special camps would be organised at government schools and sub-primary health centres to distribute these cards. This is further in line with the state’s healthy Bihar campaign. We recently concluded Gram Swasthya Chetna Yatra that was very successful. Now health card will be the second phase of the campaign,” Choubey added.

The minister also said the health department was contemplating to launch a health insurance scheme for the residents.

“Our motto is to ensure that every family in the state is healthy and has proper access to health care facilities at the cheapest rate. We are studying the insurance model being followed by some of the southern states. We plan to create a pool of essential drugs in the state, which will be made available to the needy through Bihar Medical Services and Infrastructure Development Corporation. The rate of premium for the insurance scheme will be decided as per family’s income,” Choubey said.

The health minister added that as the state government has declared 2011 as safe motherhood year, the department will also take a number of initiatives April onwards to ensure a remarkable increase in the number of institutionalised child births.