Jamshedpur, June 20: A cashless medical facility under a unique health insurance scheme developed jointly by the Jharkhand chapter of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and insurance companies would soon be launched in the state.

Sources in the CII said the scheme ? the first of its kind in the country ? will cover the treatment of outdoor patients and even minor ailments such as fever and cold.

The blueprint for the scheme was originally drawn for the districts of Ranchi, East-Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan by CII officials, representatives of insurance companies and health experts at a workshop here on February 24.

After a few rounds of deliberations between the CII and senior state government officials, including chief secretary P.P. Sharma, it was recently decided to launch the scheme in all the districts.

The scheme is expected to benefit every individual in the state.

Under the scheme, said a senior officer of one of the insurance companies, an individual will have to pay less that Rs 500 as premium every year. ?The insurance coverage will be about Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000.? Those covered under the scheme will have to visit a hospital or nursing home, which will accept the card issued at the time of insurance.

?After that, everything, including the formality of disbursement of money for treatment, will be done by the hospital or nursing home,? the officer added.

Chairman of CII?s healthcare programme Manoj Prasad, who is also the chief of medical services of Tata Steel, said New India Assurance Company Limited, United India Insurance and Oriental Insurance are the three companies involved in the scheme.

He added that the chief secretary has agreed to launch the scheme in the state.