AP Aarogyasri card holders to get Rs 25 lakh medical coverage

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday directed the Medical and Health Department officials to instil confidence among people that all Aarogyasri card holders can avail free medical treatment up to Rs 25 lakh under YSR Aarogyasri.

At a review meeting on the launching of the extended Aarogyasri scheme held at the camp office near here, he said it is their responsibility to extend the benefits of health and education to people as a matter of right. Officials should give an assurance to people that any eligible person who is in need of medical treatment for any ailment can avail it free of cost up to Rs 25 lakh under Aarogyasri. The extended beneficial YSR Aarogyasri scheme will be launched on December 18. MLAs will participate in the follow-up programmes being held in villages in every constituency from the next day.

The government has enhanced the free medical treatment limit to Rs 25 lakh with humanity and officials also should act with responsibility in extending the benefit to necessary people with a humanistic approach to implement the historic decision, he said.

Whoever undergoes medical treatment under Aarogyasri should be given Rs 300 towards charges when they go to doctors again for follow-up consultation. Similarly, patients identified in Jagananna Arogya Suraksha should also be given Rs 500 each to visit hospitals.

The specially developed video on availing free medical treatment under Aarogyasri should be made available to volunteers, Secretariat staff and officials of Health Department besides making it accessible to all people, he suggested.

Reddy also directed the officials to construct residential quarters for the specialist doctors working in the government hospitals. The department is printing new Aarogyasri cards and these will be distributed to all households across the State. Officials are planning to complete the distribution by January-end.