Blaming officials for the delay in integrating health insurance schemes such as Yeshasvini with Arogya Karnataka, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Friday gave an assurance that he would sort out the tanglein the next one week.
When he learnt that patients, who were earlier eligible for insurance benefits under Yeshasvini scheme, had been left high and dry in view of the delay, Mr. Kumaraswamy said he went by the assurance of officials on the early merger of existing insurance schemes with Arogya Karnataka.
However, he appealed to suffering patients to meet him directly with their representations and he would help them.
“During the last four months, a total of ₹18 crore has been spent from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for patients,” Mr. Kumaraswamy said.
He also recalled that he had opposed the merger of existing insurance schemes with Arogya Karnataka, but went ahead with it after officials assured him that the integration would be completed in two months.
While Arogya Karnataka scheme will benefit more than 4 crore people, Yeshasvini benefits only about 60 to 70 lakh people, he said.
