The health insurance scheme for the people below the poverty line, Rajiv Arogya Sri, completed three years of its commencement in East Godavari district on Saturday. Cutting a cake to mark the anniversary, District Collector M. Ravi Chandra wished that the scheme should continue forever.
Speaking to the reporters on the occasion, Mr. Ravi Chandra recalled the former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy launching the scheme in the district on December 5, 2007.
“Since then, we have conducted four mega health camps in the district. In all, 61,533 people undergone various surgeries under the scheme so far and the government paid a sum of Rs. 178.04 crore to various hospitals in the district towards the treatment,” he said.
Mr. Ravi Chandra said that treatment would be provided to 958 diseases and ailments under the scheme and medicines would be distributed free of cost for a period of one year for the patients suffering from 125 diseases. “The services are available in 26 hospitals in various parts of the district,” he said.
District coordinator of the scheme S. Krishna Kumar said that Siddhartha Hospital in Rajahmundry was blacklisted from the scheme, as its services were not satisfactory. He said that cochlear implantation that costs Rs. 6.5 lakh would be provided to deaf and dumb children below 12 years of age under the Rajiv Arogya Sri.
He said that frequent inspections were going to ensure qualitative treatment to the beneficiaries of the scheme.
District Medical and Health Officer Vijayakumar, area manager of the scheme M. Anil Kumar and others were present.
