Health Minister Announces State-Wide Sanjeevani Trial Run From Dec. 10
Andhra Pradesh will begin a statewide trial of the Sanjeevani healthcare programme on December 10, ahead of its full rollout from January 1.
Andhra Pradesh government will start a trial run of the Sanjeevani integrated healthcare programme throughout the state from December 10, ahead of implementing the scheme fully from January 1 next year, Health minister Satya Kumar Yadav announced on Friday.
On the day, he launched 71 health chariots for Anantapur and Sri Sathya Sai districts from Dharmavaram, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya.
Satya Kumar pointed out that the Sanjeevani programme is aimed at providing preventive healthcare at people’s doorstep, linking medical tests to treatment, if necessary, and follow-up healthcare.
Under the programme, the health chariots conduct free of cost 41 types of diagnostic tests, including for diabetes, kidney, and liver functions. Test reports are sent to beneficiaries through WhatsApp within 48 hours.
The Health minister disclosed that these tests will lead to creation of a digital health profile of every individual in the state, including test records, treatment history, and details of medicines taken. This would enable doctors to access a patient’s medical history and continue treatment without the patient having to carry his or her old records.
Satya Kumar Yadav disclosed that more than 2,000 hospitals would have coordinators to facilitate referrals and appointments. In all, under Sanjivani,
the government would deploy 933 health chariots across the State. ASHA workers, ANMs, and hospital coordinators would follow up with the patients about the treatment required.
He said this would enable the government to detect illnesses at an early stage and prevent families from suffering financial hardship due to delayed treatment. He said the name ‘Sanjeevani’ has been chosen after the mythical herb associated with saving lives.
Those present included Health commissioner K. Chakradhar Babu, National Health Mission state project manager B. Vijaya Lakshmi, Sri Sathya Sai district collector Syam Prasad, among others.