Ayushman Bharat-Arogya Karnataka cards, issue centers to be expanded

Ayushman Bharat-Arogya Karnataka cards, issue centers to be expanded

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Feb 14, 2019: Ayushman Bharat-Arogya Karnataka cards, which are now being issued ony at two Mangalore One centres (MCC office and Kadri), will soon also be issued from more centres shortly,  said District Health and Family Welfare Officer M. Ramakrishna Rao here on February 13,Wednesday.

 

At the ’Meet-the-Press’ programme at the Press Club, Dr. Rao said that Ayushman Bharat and Arogya Karnataka were being implemented together since October 31, 2018. The health cards, which assures cashless treatment to an extent of Rs. 5 lakh, were first issued at the Government Wenlock Hospital.

Due to the over crowding, it was decided to stop it and issue the cards to those who get admitted at Wenlock Hospital. Similarly, cards are being issued to those getting admitted at the taluk hospitals in Belthangady, Sullia, Puttur and Bantwal. These cards are issued after beneficiaries produce their Aadhaar cards and/or ration cards on nominal payment for cost of card.

People can get these cards by paying Rs. 35 at the MangaloreOne centres at Lalbagh,  Kadri and Surathkal. While 33,735 cards have been issued at government hospitals, 13,581 cards are issued at MangaloreOne centres.

Under the scheme, BPL card holders receive cashless treatment to the extent of Rs. 5 lakh, while others will receive cashless treatment up to Rs. 1.5 lakh. Patients can avail of benefits of the scheme only if they get admitted at the government hospital and are referred to empanelled private hospitals for super-speciality services, Dr. Rao said

District Nodal Officer for the scheme Ratnakar Ganiga said that so far 1,902 persons have benefited under the scheme. This includes 1,539 beneficiaries of Arogya Karnataka, which was implemented since June 2018 and 363 beneficiaries since the merger of Arogya Karnataka and Ayushman Bharat.