Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday announced that his government’s much anticipated Universal Health Scheme (UHS) will be launched on April 1 this year.

Under the scheme, announced in the state budget for 2021-22 by Gehlot, every family will get an insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh by paying Rs 850 annually, the CM said at a virtual programme of the medical education department.

He said the medical and health sector is the topmost priority for his government. ''Development works, water, electricity, education, irrigation, social welfare and other sectors are also on the government's priority list, but health is the topmost priority area for us,'' Gehlot said.

He said the state government had launched the ''Nirogi Rajasthan'' campaign and the preparations for it, which started in December 2019, proved to be crucial in March 2020 at the time of the coronavirus outbreak.

''The corona management of the government was excellent, due to which the recovery rate was the highest and the mortality rate was the lowest in the state. We have strengthened our medical infrastructure and the per-day corona testing capacity is 70,000 now,'' the chief minister said. He said Rajasthan's ''Bhilwara model'' was praised worldwide and the ''No Mask, No Entry'' slogan was followed in the UK also.

Highlighting the medical facilities in the state, Gehlot said his government is exploring the possibility of tie-ups with foreign universities for nursing-training courses. He said the numbers of medical colleges, seats in the MBBS and MD courses have increased in the state and the government is developing model community health centres (CHCs).

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Let us adopt collaborative approach, focus on civic guidelines and remain vigilant over Covid-19