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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Prevention Must Follow Universal Health Cover

Prevention Must Follow Universal Health Cover

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published Published on Jan 25, 2015   modified Modified on Jan 25, 2015
-The New Indian Express

At a time when millions of people are being pushed into poverty by health care costs, there is good news from Karnataka. The state, a pioneer in government-led health assurance, launched another innovative programme on Tuesday. The Rajiv Arogya Bhagya scheme for uninsured people above the poverty line covers tertiary treatment, including 449 surgical procedures, in seven specialties: cardiology, neurology, urology, oncology, burns, polytrauma and paediatrics. Each family gets floating cover of `1.5 lakh. If the patient is admitted to a general ward, 70 per cent of the cost is covered. If, however, the patient opts for a semi-private or private ward, 50 per cent of the cost can be claimed. In exceptional cases, cost overruns up to `50,000 will be allowed. The only requirement is an APL ration card issued by the state's food and civil supplies department. A provision of `15 crore has been made for the 10 weeks that remain in this financial year.

With this, chief minister Siddaramaiah said, Karnataka has become the first state in India to achieve universal health coverage. The state already had schemes like Vajpayee Arogyashree for the poor and Yashaswini for farmers and other members of rural co-ops. Earlier this year, the second scheme was extended to members of urban cooperative societies.

There are quibbles that benefits under the Rajiv Arogyashree scheme have been watered down. However that may be, it is creditable that the state government has found the money to honour a commitment in these fiscally uncertain times. Let us not forget that just last month, the central government ordered cuts in its health-care budget. The next challenge for the state government, as for the Centre, is prevention. With the burden of lifestyle diseases growing, education-about lifestyle changes and diet modifications-will be critical.


The New Indian Express, 23 January, 2015, http://www.newindianexpress.com/editorials/Prevention-Must-Follow-Universal-Health-Cover/2015/01/23/article2631834.ece


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