Guwahati, Dec. 25: The Assam government today launched Atal Amit Abhiyan, a health insurance scheme, for families with annual income less than Rs 5 lakh.

The scheme, described by health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma as the "biggest healthcare initiative" in the country, will cover six commonly prevalent and high-cost disease groups - cardiovascular disease, cancer, kidney ailments, neonatal disease, neurological condition and burns.

The scheme was formally launched by chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal at Assam secretariat here on the occasion of 92nd birthday of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The scheme will provide health insurance of Rs 2 lakh per year to individual members of eligible families for treatment of 436 selected treatment procedures under the six disease groups. "The scheme will cover up to Rs 2 lakh for a patient. The patient will have to bear the remaining expenditure," Sarma said.

He said the scheme would not cover the employees of the state and the central governments. He added that the state government will launch another health scheme in April next year for pensioners and state government employees and their families.

The state government will spend Rs 200 crore a year under the scheme. As there are only four months left to complete the current financial year, the government will spend Rs 50 crore for this period.

Treatment can be availed only in the empanelled hospital which will be notified through advertisements. Public and private hospitals in and outside the state will be empanelled under the scheme for treatment. "Most of the big hospitals of the country will be associated with the scheme," Sarma said.

The scheme is free for enrolment for the first year. Thereafter each family (excluding BPL families) will be required to pay Rs 100 per individual every year for renewal and enrolment.

A separate society will be set up under the aegis of the department of health and family welfare of the state government which will be responsible for implementing the scheme.

Every member of a family will be given a smart card (a laminated card) after enrolment.

Each laminated card will have an identification number and all relevant details required for verification will be taken at the time of enrolment. The smart card will have to be produced at the time of availing of the procedures or treatment at any of the empanelled hospitals.

"Camps will be set up in villages to collect photographs and information for people. The process will begin from January 1. The process of issuing smart cards will be over in April. Till then, a person can avail the benefit of the scheme by submitting a form at the NRHM's district office," Sarma said.

He added that travelling expenses will be decided by the government and part of the package rates. A help desk will be set up in each empanelled hospital to help patients.