BANGALORE: To make quality health care more accessible to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, the state health department is implementing Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Yojana — a scheme that provides for multi speciality treatment of up to Rs 1.5 lakh — in the five districts of Gulbarga division from December 25.
Bidar, Bellary, Gulbarga, Koppal and Raichur districts would be covered in the first phase of the scheme.
The scheme will cover cardiovascular, neurological and renal diseases, Poly trauma cases (not covered by motor vehicle insurance), burns, neo-natal, and cancer treatment — including surgical oncology, chemotherapy, radiation oncology.
It is based on the Arogya Sree scheme of Andhra Pradesh.
“While the Arogya Sree is based on a health insurance model, Suvarana Arogya Suraksha scheme is a government assurance scheme,” said Kumar Nayak, Executive Director, Suvarana Arogroya Suraksha Trust (SAST).
“Up to five members of the family would be entitled to the benefits of the scheme.
Also, an additional benefit of Rs 50,000 could be granted in severe and special cases.” Though scheme was launched on a trial basis in Bellary on July 31.
Under the project the network hospitals will have to conduct a fixed number of medical camps in pre-designated areas and districts.
The hospitals will have to work in close liaison with the district coordinator, district health officer and the deputy commissioner.
The meeting on the statelevel benefit package listing and pricing was held on November 21.
Nayak said that pilot project has already been started with hospitals like National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology and Kidwai Institute of Oncology but the empanelment of big corporate hospitals is yet to be done’’.
veenajoshi@expressbuzz.com