BENGALURU: In a significant step towards inclusive healthcare, the Karnataka health department has included surgical treatment for spinal deformities such as scoliosis, kyphosis and lordosis under the Ayushman Bharat-Arogya Karnataka health package. These conditions commonly affect children and teenagers and severely impact their daily activities and quality of life.
Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao shared a post on X, stating, “Spinal deformities treatment is now included under the Ayushman Bharat-Arogya Karnataka Scheme. We are continuously striving to address any health issues that may arise in children with utmost seriousness, ensuring they too have the opportunity to lead a healthy and fulfilling life.”
According to the government order, Karnataka has approved the inclusion of spinal deformity treatment under the Unspecified Surgical Package of the Ayushman Bharat-Arogya Karnataka (AbARK) scheme.
This decision follows a request from the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST) to cover spinal deformities in children, as existing programmes like the National Health Mission’s Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (NHM-RBSK) did not provide treatment options.
A total of 1,658 treatment procedures, including 36 surgical methods, have been sanctioned under the scheme without additional financial liability. The move aims to ensure better healthcare access for children with spinal deformities across the state.
Each surgery must be recommended by an expert physician committee, with a treatment cost of Rs 1.5 lakh per procedure. Government hospitals will receive 75% of the approved package rate.
Both government and private hospitals must follow registration guidelines to ensure high-quality treatment. The estimated cost must be reasonable and covered within the budget grant. Any modifications to the package require government approval, the order stated.
Govt to recruit 11 dental health officers
The Karnataka government has approved the recruitment of 11 dental health officers on a contract basis under the Ayushman Bharat-Arogya Karnataka (AbARK) scheme to strengthen public healthcare services.
The decision follows a request to fill these vacancies in public hospitals and community health centres. The select districts include Bagalkote, Belagavi, Bidar, Tumakuru, Vijayapura, Yadgir, Koppal, Belagavi and Uttara Kannada, with each district getting one dental health officer.
WHAT ARE SPINAL DEFORMITIES?
They are abnormalities in the spine’s curve or rotation. They can occur due to an injury, disease, aging and other reasons.
COMMON TYPES
Scoliosis: An abnormal sideways curvature of the spine that can occur at any age.
Kyphosis: A forward curvature of the upper back that can cause a hump.
Lordosis: An inward curvature of the lower back that’s also known as swayback.
SYMPTOMS
Uneven shoulders or hips A head that appears tilted or off-centre A stooped posture Pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling in the arms or legs