JOIN USArogya Bhagya, a Universal Health Scheme that reaches out to all citizens with free or subsidised health care, including emergency care, at government and empanelled private hospitals, will be rolled out by the State government on November 1.
The State Cabinet, which met here on Monday, gave its go-ahead for the scheme, which integrates seven existing government sponsored health care programmes. A funding of Rs 869 crore has been earmarked for the scheme.
Briefing reporters, Law Minister TB Jayachandra said as many as 1.4 crore households under Category A will be able to avail free healthcare without any payment.
These include farmers, teachers from aided schools, anganwadi workers, unorganised labour (auto drivers, porters, rag pickers, mining workers, street vendors, construction workers, weavers, sanitation workers, MNREGA workers), SC/STs, pourakarmikas, animal bite victims, mediapersons, members of co-operative societies and government employees.
All that is required is an Aadhaar-linked ‘Universal Health Card’. Details on how to procure the cards will be announced in the coming weeks, Jayachandra said.
Second category
Households which do not fall in the above category (estimated to be around 30 lakh) can enrol online with Aadhaar details by paying a premium of Rs 300 per person per annum in rural areas and Rs 700 in urban areas.
In case of emergencies, including accidents, medical treatment can be availed at the nearest facility, irrespective of government or private. The scheme works on “treatment first, payment next” basis, with the government bearing the cost of treatment at private hospitals up to Rs 25,000 for emergency care.
Jayachandra said Helpline numbers 108 and 104 will provide details regarding procuring free diagnostics, drugs, dialysis and blood units at government hospitals. In all, as many as 50,000 beds in government hospitals and medical colleges will provide treatment for around 1,000 secondary procedures and 500 tertiary procedures, including surgeries.
Treatment is free for Category A beneficiaries even for secondary and tertiary procedures, while Category B?beneficiaries will get 30% reimburesment from government.
Citizens will have to call toll free number 1800-425-8330 / 1800-425-2646 to get referred online to government or private hospitals.
There is no cap on treatment at government hospitals. The patient can visit a private hospital only if the government institution is not equipped to provide the required treatment.
The new scheme brings under a single umbrella existing health schemes such as Vajpayee Arogyasri, Yashaswini, Indira Suraksha Yojana, Mukhyamantri Santhwana Harish scheme, Police Arogya Bhagya and Rajiv Arogya Bhagya, the minister said.
The Cabinet also discussed the possibility of convening a special session of the legislature to pass the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (Amendment) Bill, 2017.
The Bill seeks to empower the government to fix rates for different types of treatment and bed charges in private hospitals and nursing homes. The bill is under scrutiny of a joint House committee.