AP spent Rs 10,000 cr on Arogyasri in 4 years: Health minister

Visakhapatnam: Health minister Vidadala Rajini has said the AP government has spent Rs 10,000 crore on Aarogyasri health insurance scheme during the last four years.

“This year, the state proposes to spend Rs 3,500 crore for this purpose,” she said while inaugurating a health camp held under Jagananna Aarogya Suraksha at Isukathota Urban Health Centre here on Tuesday.

The minister said the opposition parties were not taking into account the services rendered under various health schemes, specially in relation to the outreach programmes. The TD government in its tenure spent only Rs 4,000 crore and weakened the Aarogyasri health scheme, depriving health services to the people, she alleged.

On the Jagananna Aarogya Suraksha, she said it was an excellent scheme that would cover all the villages in the state and store the health data of the people.

“During the next 45 days, we will be conducting 10,574 health camps, including 10,032 in urban areas. We will be involving all the government departments to make this unique health scheme a grand success,’’ she said.

The minister said, on the first day, 611 health camps were held and 1,57,000 outpatients were examined. Around 600 of these were referred to various hospitals for treatment.

“There was no dearth of medical professionals for these camps, she said, adding, “4,500 specialist doctors would be available for JAS during the next 45 days.”

On the response to Isukathota UPHC camp in Visakhapatnam, she said that out of 10,000 households, 2,600 patients were tested and some were referred to hospital. Seven types of tests were being conducted under JAS, of which tests on urine, blood pressure and sugar levels would be mandatory.

Community health workers, ANMs and Griha Mitras would be knocking on every door to make the families participate in the health camps. Mayor Hari Kumari and local MP MVV Satyanarayana were present.