Lukewarm response to Rajiv Arogya Bhagya scheme

Only 488 beneficiaries have availed themselves of the benefits since Jan 2015

 The Rajiv Arogya Bhagya (RAB) scheme has evoked a lukewarm response in the State. Only 488 people have availed the benefits under the scheme since its launch five months ago.

The health assurance scheme for the above poverty line (APL) families to get treatment at subsidised prices was launched in January. Under the scheme, the beneficiaries have access to as many as 449 surgical procedures.

 When Vajpayee Arogyashree, the health scheme for the BPL families, was launched in 2010-11, a good 4,095 beneficiaries availed the benefits of the scheme in its inaugural year.

 Dr P Bore Gowda, executive director, Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust, told Deccan Herald, “Most beneficiaries have availed cardiac and oncology treatments under the scheme. Out of those who have been benefited by the scheme, as many as 182 have received treatment for cardiac ailments while 195 were cancer patients.”

The Trust has been entrusted with the responsibility of implementing the scheme.
 Belagavi district has registered highest number of beneficiaries under RAB scheme, where 89 persons availed treatment. Bengaluru Rural, Kolar, Ramanagara, Koppal, Yadgir and Chikkaballapur have seen the least number of pre-authorisations under RAB.

 Recently, the State government also launched an android application to make it convenient for beneficiaries of the scheme. Over 1,000 have installed the application so far.

While a few officials said that the beneficiaries are few as it is a newly launched scheme, others blame it on lack of promotional activities.

“Even as there are kiosks at all empanelled hospitals where patients can get information and know more about the scheme, not many patients approach them. Moreover, doctors at private hospitals, for obvious reasons, do not tell the patients about this option being available where treatment could be availed at a subsidised price,” an official said.

Minister for Health and Family Welfare, U T Khader said that the department would take steps to educate the masses about the scheme. 

As many as 140 hospitals have been empanelled under the scheme so far. Out of which 21 are in Bengaluru.

While for treatment in a general ward, the beneficiary will have to bear just 30 per cent of the cost and the rest will be borne by the government through Suvarana Arogya Suraksha Trust.

Investigation charges

Unlike in the Vajpayee Arogyashree scheme where the investigation  charges are borne by the government for the beneficiaries, under RAB, the APL cardholders will have to shell out the charges from their pockets. 

No upper cap

The department has put no upper cap on the rates hospitals can declare as ‘basic package rates’ for particular surgeries. According to an official from the Department of Health and Family Welfare, analysis of data shows that hospitals that have high treatment charges have seen minimum number of beneficiaries.


Beneficiaries of RAB

Speciality     No of     patients  Oncology      195
Cardiology    182
Genito urinary    80
surgery             
Neuro surgery    25
Paediatric surgery    3
Burns            3