Poor getting hi-tech medicare gratis from Aarogyasri: YSR

Hyderabad, Aug 27 (UNI) The Rajiv Aarogyasri Health Insurance Scheme was an innovative healthcare facility that enabled the poor to avail corporate treatment free-of-cost, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy told the Legislative Council today.

Intervening during a debate on the scheme's implementation, he said the scheme was being implemented in a transparent manner.

The government, while strengthening the government hospitals, including Pirmary Health Centres, was leveraging private hospitals for providing high-end treatment.

Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia had appreciated the scheme and suggested other States to emulate Andhra Pradesh in this regard, Dr Reddy claimed.

The State Government had allocated Rs 5,000 crore in the Budget for medical and health sector for the current fiscal.

Earlier, Medical Education and Health Insurance Minister Galla Aruna Kumari refuted allegations of TDP Member Padmaja that the State Government had favoured a private company for the health insurance scheme and said the contract was awarded to the lowest bidder.

However, TDP members, including Ms Padmaja and Mr Dadi Veerabhadra Rao, alleged the government had introduced the scheme to help corporate hospitals neglecting government institutions during its implementation.

Mr P Nageswar Rao (CPI), appreciating the scheme, suggested the government to constitute a committee to monitor its implementation.He also demanded action against the corporate hospitals that misused the scheme.

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