Now, 1.2 crore will have access to free doorstep health checkup

GURGAON: The state government has added more beneficiaries to its Nirogi Haryana scheme, under which it conducts door-to-door health screening of the economically weaker section. Earlier, Haryana had a target of screening around 98.1 lakh people with an annual income of Rs 1.8 lakh or less. On Thursday, the state increased the number to 1.2 crore after a survey - a rise of nearly 24%.
The check-ups are meant to be done at least once every two years. The scheme aims to detect diseases at the earliest to lessen the burden of treatment costs on the patient's family.
So far in the state, a total of 7,86,236 people have already been screened under Nirogi Haryana. Panchkula has carried out screening of 30% (47,471) of its targeted recipients - the highest in the state - while Gurgaon has covered 19.6% (86,297) of beneficiaries, followed by Ambala at 15.3% (68,403), Kurukshetra at 10% (44,225) and Rohtak at 9% (43,611).
Under the revised target, a total of 4,38,682 people will be screened in the city, up from 3,48,556 earlier, according to chief medical officer Dr Virender Yadav.
"We have already carried out screening of 86,297 people in the city. They are contacted by health workers such as ANMs and ASHA and anganwadi workers, after which they are guided to designated health facilities for comprehensive check-ups," Yadav added.
The identified population is categorised into six age groups for the purpose of check-ups. While category 1 covers infants up to six months of age, category 2 covers children aged six to 59 months. The third category includes children aged five to 18 years, while category 4 covers the 18-40 age group and category 5 the 40-60 age group. Those over 60 years of age fall under category 6.
The scheme was launched by President Droupadi Murmu at the Civil Hospital in Kurukshetra in November last year. It was announced by chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar in his budget speech in 2022.