Bengaluru: In a major decision taken to mark the completion of six months in office, the Congress government will extend the benefits of ‘Rajiv Arogyasri’ medical aid scheme to more than one crore above poverty line (APL) population.
Addressing media persons here on Thursday, health and family welfare minister U.T. Khader said the decision would cost the state exchequer about Rs. 120 crore a year. Under this scheme, people could undergo free treatment for seven major diseases in multi-specialty hospitals across the state.
The government would bear expenses of Rs. 2 lakh of a family in a year, he added. He, however, clarified that families covered under ‘Vajpayee Arogyasri’ (BPL families), ESI scheme, ‘Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana’ (RSBY), ‘Yeshasvini’ and health insurance schemes would not benefit from ‘Rajiv Arogyasri’ scheme.
In order to gain political mileage, the state government has decided to name the medical aid scheme after the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. It has decided to retain the title of the other scheme for BPL families as ‘Vajpayee Arogyasri.’ “Karnataka is the only state ensuring health security to the entire population.
The state has a population of 6.11 crore, of which 4 crore BPL families will be covered under ‘Vajpayee Arogyasri’ scheme for major diseases. Around one crore people who constitute the creamy layer are covered under private health insurance schemes. For the remaining one crore people, we will provide Rajiv Arogyasri”, Khader explained.
The state government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with 150 major hospitals for ‘Rajiv Arogyasri’ scheme. Once a patient covered under the scheme arrives at a hospital, the staff at ‘Arogya Mitra’ counters would provide all assistance to the patient, the health minister added.
Under this scheme, patients have to cough up only ten per cent of the total cost of treatment. The benefits would be available to patients for cardiac, cancer, renal, burns, neonatal and neurological problems.
Under ‘Vajpayee Arogyasri’ scheme around 20,000 people are expected to benefit in 2013-14, the minister added. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would formally launch ‘Rajiv Arogyasri’ scheme soon, he added.
