The Department of Health, Central Tibetan Administration is organising a three-day workshop cum review meeting on ‘Tibetan Medicare System Awareness and Enrolment Planning of 2016-17′ at Tibetan Reception Centre, Dharamshala. A total of 44 members, including three Indian Health Insurance experts, Tibetan settlement officers, medical officers and executive staffs will be participating in the workshop.
Chief guest Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay, the democratically elected political leader of the Tibetan people, inaugurated the workshop and exchanged greetings with each participants.
Reviewing the department’s successful initiatives of the year, Health Kalon Dr. Tsering Wangchuk spoke on the hepatitis B control initiatives, under which thousands of Tibetan children from age 6 – 18 in 11 schools were provided free testing and vaccination. The department of health is currently pursuing a much larger initiative to educate Tibetan communities on Hepatitis prevention.
Tibetan Medicare System Outreach Award is another initiative under the pipeline. The objective of the initiative is to encourage more Tibetans to enroll in the Tibetan Medicare System. Tibetan Communities through out India with highest percentage of enrolment in TMS will be recognised with the Tibetan Medicare System Outreach Award.
As told by Mr. Nyima Gyaltsen, Program Manager of Tibetan Medicare System, the enrolment in Tibetan Medicare System has risen to 19,650 this year. In the last four years, the number of beneficiaries has increased significantly – 450, 600, 700 and latest recorded as 800 beneficiaries.
The main objective of the workshop, as explained by Mr. Nyima Gyaltsen is to discuss the specific problems in implementing the medicare policies and to discuss communication strategies to educate the people on medicare benefits.
Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay spoke in depth on promotion of health exercises from the grass root level. Speaking on the possibility of organised walkathons in Tibetan communities, Sikyong urged the health officers to organise community activities and create platforms to educate basic health care, precautions and prevention thereof.
Under the leadership of 14th Kashag of Honorable Sikyong Dr.Lobsang Sangay, The Department of Health had launched The TMS Health Plan on 1st April 2012. Since then, Tibetan Medicare has been successfully providing an equitable and comprehensive healthcare coverage to the Exile Tibetans living in India.