With the Yeshasvini health scheme – started by the government in 2003 for farmers and in 2014 for residents of urban areas – coming to an end on May 31 (as it will be amalgamated with the new Universal Health Scheme), there are concerns about the referral system based on which a patient can avail treatment in a private hospital.
At a meeting chaired by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Tuesday, top officials from the government raised the issue and apprised the CM about problems patients may face owing to the referral system.
“The referral system may not work out in case of pregnancies, especially in areas where government health facilities are not well-equipped. The patient is likely to develop complications by the time she is referred and moved to a private facility. The referral system should not be mandatory at least for pregnancy-related cases,” a top official from the Yeshasvini Trust is learnt to have told the CM.
Following this, the CM directed the Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Ajay Seth to closely examine both the schemes – Yeshasvini and UHC – and come out with an amendment on exempting pregnancy-related cases from the referral system.
He has asked the official to place the amendment before the Cabinet.
Cashless treatment
Under UHC, all the 1.4 crore households in the State will be eligible for cashless treatment for up to ₹1.5 lakh in government and private hospitals.
