Beneficiaries of Vajpayee Arogyasri scheme in Karnataka, living in places close to the State’s borders, can now get medical attention at all networked hospitals in the city nearest to them even if they are in other States, said N. Ramesh, Regional Consultant, Mysore Division, Vajpayee Arogya Sri, Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust, Government of Karnataka.
He was speaking to The Hindu at a camp held to get more people registered for the scheme, organised by Father Muller Hospital and K. S. Hegde Medical Academy (KSHEMA) in Government Wenlock Hospital on Tuesday. The hospitals oganising the camp are part of the networked hospitals offering the scheme, said Dr. Saroja, Resident Medical Officer (RMO), Wenlock Hospital.
Dr. Ramesh said the change, effective from the current year, meant that beneficiaries from Bellary can go to Hyderabad and Kurnool, beneficiaries from Belgaum can go to Miraj and Sholapur, and beneficiaries from Raichur can go to Mehboobnagar and Hyderabad.
The scheme offers seven specialisations: cardiac, cardio-thoracic, neurosurgery, renal, polytrauma (multiple injuireis), neonatal (malformations noticed within 28 days of the birth), burns (plastic surgery) and cancer (surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy), he said.
‘BPL card is a visa’
Narayan, a resident of Derebail, looked crestfallen at the camp. He said the people at the counter had told him the BPL card was essential and he did not have the card. “I am single. I was told single persons cannot get a BPL card. What am I to do? Will I be left to die?”
He said he lived in his brother’s house as he did not own a house and the brother did not belong to the BPL category.
Dr. Ramesh said that the person must go to the tahsildar of his village and get a BPL card. Even with a temporary BPL card, he can go directly to a networked hospital.
“The BPL card is the passport and visa for the scheme,” he said.
Sharif from Adyar, who brought his father for treatment, said there was “no problem” and Zameela from Irathottigram, said she had got her BPL card. Kusum, an Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) worker, was one of at least five ASHA workers who were there to help their patients get registered for the scheme. Three more hospitals in the city have been inspected to see if they could be brought under the scheme. Some of the listed hospitals in Mangalore are: K.S. Hegde Hospital (KSHEMA), Father Muller Hospital, A.J. Hospital, KMC. Of 132 networked hospitals in the State, more than 70 are in Bangalore. From April, 447 hospitals (from 402) in the state will be networked for the scheme, he said.
The camp registered 144 people, of whom 40 were taken for treatment in networked hospitals. The rest did not have health problems covered under the scheme, said Dr. Ramesh.
Narayan, a resident of Derebail, looked crestfallen at the camp. He said the people at the counter had told him the BPL card was essential and he did not have the card. “I am single. I was told single persons cannot get a BPL card. What am I to do? Will I be left to die?” He said he lived in his brother’s house as he did not own a house and the brother did not belong to the BPL category.
Dr. Ramesh said that the person must go to the tahsildar of his village and get a BPL card. Even with a temporary BPL card, he can go directly to a networked hospital (without waiting for the permanent card).
“The BPL card is the passport and visa for the scheme,” he said.
Three more hospitals in the city have been inspected to see if they could be networked for the scheme. Some of the networked hospitals in Mangalore are: K.S. Hegde Hospital (KSHEMA), Father Muller Hospital, A.J. Hospital, KMC. Of 132 networked hospitals in the state, more than 70 are in Bangalore. From April, 447 hospitals (from 402) in the state will be networked for the scheme, he said.
Cancer patients in limbo
Jagadish Shettar, Chief Minister, Karnataka, said, “Something is being done.” in response to a query by The Hindu here on Monday about what would happen to cancer patients using the Vajpayee Arogyasri scheme in Udupi.
Mr. Shettar did not elaborate on what was being done. Kasturba Medical College (KMC), the only hospital in the district providing treatment to cancer patients from the scheme, stopped taking them a few months ago due to differences over the scheme guidelines about treatment, drugs and the quantum of payment.
