Hyderabad, April 30: The State Government has decided to suspend four types of laparoscopic procedures from the Arogyasri scheme since they were much vulnerable for malpractices.
This decision was taken at a meeting of the Arogyasri Trust Board Meeting.
Chief Minister K Rosaiah, who happens to be the chairman of the Board, chaired the meeting here today.
He was informed that the Trust was adopting stringent policy of scrutiny of claim by specialists while processing online to ensure quality treatment to the patients. The Chief Minister wanted the Trust to ensure that all necessary steps were taken to increase the participation of Government Hospitals under Aarogyasri.
Arogyasri CEO A Babu explained that the Trust had devised fresh guidelines for taking up Gynaecology & Obstetrics procedures after having expert committee meetings with specialists from both private and public sector hospitals. The board decided to renew the scheme in 10 districts of Phase 4 and Phase 5 for 3rd policy year.
This will benefit 84.34 lakh BPL families from Adilabad, Hyderabad, Kurnool, Vizianagaram, Vishakapatnam, Nizamabad, Khammam, Warangal, Guntur and Krishna from July 17.
It was alo decided to utilise the revolving fund accrued (Rs 15 crore) to strengthen the infrastructure in Government Hospitals to enable them for enhanced performance under the scheme with a definite policy to be formulated by the Department of Health, Medical and Family Welfare.
It was also decided to extend consultancy services to Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust of Government of Karnataka to share IT platform to help them in implementation of Vajpayee Aarogyasri.
The meeting approved the guidelines on certain laparoscopic procedures and rationalization of package rates of certain procedures to prevent unethical use of surgeries. It was decided to pursue with the Union Government for allotment of 106 toll free number for Aarogyasri call center instead of the present 1800-425-7788. The Trust has decided to appoint health department principal secretary as the ex-officio Executive Vice Chairman.
Meanwhile, Arogyasri Minister P Satyanarayana informed reporters that the Government was planning to improve infrastructure in 49 government hospitals with Rs 65 crore to which patients of Arogyasri were recommended.
He said the Government wants to increase the Arogyasri patients ratio from 15 to 30 per cent.
–Agencies