Arogyashree likely to be extended to entire State

Speaking after inaugurating the first ever massive health check-up and treatment camp for the BPL families of Gulbarga and Yadgir districts at the sprawling Nutan Vidyalaya Grounds here on Monday, he said the health scheme was “the most revolutionary scheme initiated by any government so far in the country.”

Originally Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Yojane before it was named after the former Prime Minister, covers free medical treatment for about 400 types of diseases and disorders including surgical operations in a network of super speciality hospital for five members of a BPL family up to a maximum of Rs 2 lakh in a year free of cost. It is available for 14.93 lakh BPL families. “After Arogya Kavacha, the ambulance service scheme Vajpayee Arogyashree is the major health initiative of my government,” Yeddyurappa declared.

In the first phase, the scheme has been launched in Gulbarga division comprising six districts - Gulbarga, Bidar, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal and Bellary. The Government pays an annual premium of Rs 300 per BPL family to the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust, the implementing agency. The scheme would require an estimated Rs 900 cr and it is likely to get the budgetary support in the year 2010-11.

Health Minister B Sreeramulu said the Arogya Kavacha had so far received 98 lakh calls and saved 2.95 lakh lives. The scheme envisages dialling number 108 to get free ambulance service within 20 minutes at the doorsteps of the caller. He said 517 ambulances have been launched all over the State.