Bengaluru: It seems the plan to issue health cards to the beneficiaries will be delayed further. The Department of Health and Family Welfare has called off the tender process that it had invited for registration of beneficiaries under the upcoming Universal Health Scheme. The scheme is all set to be launched on November 1.
Responding to allegations of discrimination and irregularities by heads of over 30 firms, who had not been invited for the pre-tender meeting, Principal Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) Shalini Rajneesh clarified that no cards will be issued under the scheme.
She said Aadhaar cards would be the reference point and health workers would help those without Aadhaar cards to enroll.
Earlier on Tuesday, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar had said that he suspects a scam behind the hurried manner in which tenders were floated for registering names of beneficiaries under the scheme.
Speaking to media persons here, Shettar had alleged that only eight days’ time had been given to the companies initially to submit bids. Following criticism, it had now been extended by a few more days, he said.
