Shillong, May 27: In view of the COVID-19 pandemic and much to the relief of the beneficiaries of the Megha Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS), the Meghalaya government has decided to increase the coverage of the scheme to Rs 60,000 per day from the existing rate of Rs 4900 per day.

Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong told reporters here on Thursday that the increment in the daily coverage amount was decided to provide immediate relief concerned beneficiaries.

He also urged all those eligible to avail the MHIS scheme, as the current enrolment under the scheme is only 58.5 percent.

Director of Health Services (MI), Dr Aman War said earlier when patients are being admitted in the hospital, the coverage of the MHIS was only Rs 4,900 per day. “Now, we have workout a formula (by) increasing this amount up to Rs 60,000 per day and this benefit will only be extended to COVID-19 patients,” he said.