In a move seen to professionalise and expedite the disbursement of health insurance cards, a health insurance kiosk with a card printer was formally installed here at the district social welfare office here on Thursday.
The card printer would be among the first few of such installations in the State, with 11 districts chosen for introduction on pilot basis.
Nagapattinam is one of the 11 districts chosen along with Chennai, Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur, Thanjavur, and Cuddalore.
The facility outsourced by United India Assurance to third party administers is being implemented by Media Assist, MD India, and T.T.K. Health Services.
With the introduction of the card printer, the month-long delay in the disbursement of insurance cards for beneficiaries is sought to be redressed.
Verifying the functioning of the printer, Collector T. Munusamy suggested emulation of NPR model of mass photo capturing in panchayats with significant number of beneficiaries awaiting receipt of health cards. The health card IDs may be disbursed at the doorstep of beneficiaries in such panchayats, Mr. Munusamy said.
The kiosk is an attempt at professionalising the procedures and expediting the erstwhile long-drawn process, said Sivakumar, District Project Officer, TTK.
