Aarogyasri Card Holders Can Avail Free Medical Treatment Up to Rs 25 Lakh: CM Jagan
VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has said the state government improved Aarogyasri services, under which treatment up to Rs 25 lakh is offered across the state from December 18.
“This is a historic decision. The distribution of new Aarogyasri health cards will start on December 19,” the Chief Minister said at a review meeting he held with the officials on Wednesday over improving the Aarogyasri health services, the Aarogya Suraksha phase-2, the new Aarogyasri health cards etc on Tuesday.
He directed health department officials to instill confidence among the people that all the Aarogyasri cardholders can avail free medical treatment up to Rs 25 lakh under the YSR Aarogyasri.
The Chief Minister said the government has the responsibility to extend the benefits of health and education to people as a matter of their right.
“Officials should give an assurance to the people that any eligible person in need of medical treatment for any ailment can avail it free of cost up to Rs 25 lakh under Aarogyasri. MLAs will participate in the follow-up programmes being held in villages in every constituency from Dec 19,” the CM said.
He said the government has enhanced the free medical treatment limit to Rs 25 lakh and officials should act with a sense of responsibility in extending the benefits to the needy people in a humane manner while implementing the historic decision.
The Chief Minister said, “Whoever undergoes medical treatment under Aarogyasri should be given '300 towards charges when they go to doctors again for follow-up consultations. Similarly, patients identified in Jagananna Aarogya Suraksha should also be given '500 each to visit hospitals.”
The specially developed video on availing free medical treatment under Aarogyasri should be made available to volunteers, secretariat staff and officials of health department besides making it accessible to all people, he said.
Jagan Mohan Reddy also directed the officials to construct residential quarters for specialist doctors working in the government hospitals.
“The department is printing new Aarogyasri cards and these would be distributed to all households. Officials must complete the distribution by January end.”
These apart, a massive public awareness campaign would be launched on the free medical treatment under Aarogyasri. ANMs, CHOs, ASHA workers, volunteers, enthusiasts, people’s representatives and women police would participate in the campaign. “They will also help people download the Disha App besides handholding the patients being treated under Aarogyasri and handing over medicines to them,” the CM stressed.
Directing the officials to launch the second phase of the Jagananna Aarogya Suraksha from January 1, the Chief Minister told them to conduct one Suraksha camp per village per mandal and one camp per ward in urban areas every week.
Jagan Mohan Reddy said the medical treatment being extended to kidney patients in Uddhanam area should be extended to kidney patients in other areas also by making available all necessary medicines in village health clinics operated by family doctors.
“The treatment facilities being made available in Palasa should also be provided in the medical college at Markapuram, he advised the officials.
“Doctors should support kidney patients by conducting necessary tests and extending treatment,” he said, adding that the urology department should be established along with the nephrology section in all new medical colleges.
Special CS (Health) M.T. Krishna Babu, Vaidya Vidhana Parishad commissioner Dr S. Venkateswar, YSR Aarogyasri CEO D.K. Balaji and others were present.
