Karunya scheme to continue: K K Shailaja

Thiruvananthapuram: In a major relief for patients, health minister K.K. Shailaja on Monday said the government would not deny treatment to people who are part of Karunya scheme which was discontinued.

The minister said the Karunya scheme would be extended till March 31, 2020. A special order in connection with the continuation of the scheme would be issued in a day or two.

Hundreds of patients, particularly those suffering from cardiac, renal problems  and cancer, were unable to avail medical facilities in hospitals following the government decision to wind up the scheme with effect from June 2019.

Ms Shailaja has asked hospitals to provide treatment to patients who are under the Karunya scheme . Patients should not be denied treatment. The hospitals should keep the details of medical cost incurred for treatment and the money would be reimbursed soon, she added.

The minister also wrote to the union government for implementation of Karunya scheme in Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Science and Technology  (SCTIMST).

The government had earlier promised to intervene if patients who were receiving assistance under Karunya Benevolent scheme are denied treatment facilities under the new Ayushman Karunya scheme.

 It said the existing problems were related to the change from one insurance scheme to another.

Major health institutions including Regional Cancer Centre, Sree Chitra, Malabar Cancer Centre and Kochi cancer centre had not joined  the new scheme compounding the problems of patients.  Under the Karuynya scheme the patients are entitled to avail treatment up to a maximum of Rs 3 lakh, Rs 1.60 lakh under Chis Plus and RSBY.

State Human Rights Commission Dr K Mohan Kumar had also on Saturday sought a report from chief secretary Tom Jose on the circumstances leading to the stopping of Karunya Benevolent fund which provided free healthcare to poor patients in the state.

The government had earlier taken a stand that new insurance scheme Kerala Arogya Suraksha Paddhathi was more beneficial.

 KBF provided only a lifetime financial aid of Rs 2 lakh while the new health insurance scheme would offer insurance coverage up to Rs 5 lakh every year.