Mangaluru: Health and Family Welfare Minister U T Khader held a press meet at the Circuit House here, on August 4.
Addressing the mediapersons, Khader said that the government is giving priority to the prevention of diseases. “The health scheme from the government is the best service. The government wants to bring awareness among the people because people are spending a lot of money towards medical treatment. Many face financial crisis to avail medical treatment. Previously, BPL families were the beneficiaries of medical schemes from the government but now, we have added APL families under this scheme. APL families save money for their children’s education or wedding but when they suffer from any medical problems their entire savings are used. To provide health insurance to government employees, we have started Jyothi Sanjeevini. Children from 0-18 years of age will get free medical treatment, not only in government hospitals but in private hospitals too,” he said. BPL families will get free medical treatment under the Vajpayee Arogyashree scheme, APL families will get 70% free medical treatment under Rajiv Arogya Bhagya scheme and government employees will get medical treatment under the Jyothi Sanjeevini scheme. Medical treatment will be provided in super specialty hospitals which are registered under the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST).
He further said that in every hospital, Arogya Mitra will be appointed and the government will pay their salary. When members of APL or BPL families go to the hospital, they should use their card to get the benefits.
He also said that 189 common procedures in the treatment of cancer will be free. Similarly 145 common procedures for heart disease, 50 procedures in neuro-surgery, 21 procedures in urology and 25 procedures in paediatric will be free. “Patients of Polytrauma, such as falling from a tree or road accident covering cases which are not medico legal, will also come under this scheme and will get free treatment. When there is a road accident, the government will pay Rs 25000 for the treatment of the victim for 48 hours. It is a humanitarian scheme from the government.”
“From 2010, the Arogyashree scheme came into existence. The state has a population of 6.11 crore of which 4 crore BPL families benefit from this scheme. Due to the Arogyashree scheme, the mortality rate has been reduced in the state. Karnataka is the first state in the country to provide Rajiv Arogya Bhagya scheme to APL families, under this scheme 1.47 crore people will be benefited. Under this scheme patients who want to get admitted in a special ward, he/she has to pay 50% of the total bill, and additional bill will be borne by the government.”
“Through these three medical schemes, Karnataka has become the first universal health coverage state. There are 12 hospitals which are registered under SAST; they are Fr Muller, A J Hospital, KMC hospital, District Wenlock hospital, Kasturba hospital, new KMC hospital and others,” he added.
Arogyashree trust director Boregowda; Regional director Dr Prasad; Joint Director for Vector Borne Disease Control Programme from Delhi Pradeep Srivastav; District Surgeon Dr Rajeshwari; District Health officer Dr Ramakrishna Rao and others were also present.