Thiruvananthapuram: People who are still part of the Karunya scheme, which has been discontinued, will not be denied benefits, Health Minister of Kerala K K Shailaja has said. The government will issue a special order for the purpose, she said. “The order will be out within two days,” she added.
Patients who earlier utilized the services at various hospitals under Karunya can continue to do so this year, informed the minister while speaking to Manorama News channel. Shailaja's reaction came when she was taking part in a special news bulletin of the channel that highlighted the distress faced by patients in this regard.
The minister directed the hospitals not to deny treatment to patients citing the winding up of the Karunya scheme. “The hospitals should maintain accounts regarding the expenses for the procedures. The government will soon reimburse the money,” she said.
The report of Manorama News highlighted the difficulties faced by lakhs of patients, including those suffering from cancer and heart disease, after the Karunya scheme launched by the previous government was stopped. The present government announced a comprehensive health insurance scheme effective from April 1 this year. But over 20 lakh families in the state are yet to be covered under the new scheme. Moreover, only inpatients are extended aid for treatment. This has made the agony suffered by outpatients and those seeking further treatment worse.
Insurance cards have been handed over only to 25 lakh families under the new health insurance scheme, being implemented with the cooperation of the Central and state governments while the target is to include 41 lakh families. It is pointed that this would take at least another month.
It has also been reported that Reliance, which won the contract for implementing the health insurance scheme, has fixed very low amounts as the money that can be claimed.
