NTR Health Cards in two months: AP CM

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the status of Aarogyasri scheme in presence of Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas, Minister for Municipal Administration P Narayana and Chief Secretary IYR Krishna Rao.

With an aim to transform Andhra Pradesh into a medical hub, the Chief Minister said NTR health cards would be issued within two months. The state government also proposed the linking of white ration cards to Aadhar. Aarogyasri is a community health insurance scheme that provides financial protection to families living below poverty line for the treatment of serious ailments requiring hospitalisation and surgery.

The Chief Minister said an internal as well as an external audit should be held. In order to better the facilities and infrastructure of government hospitals, the Chief Minister said Wipro has come forward to develop them and adopt Public Health Centres as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). To monitor services under Aarogyasri and asses the services to beneficiaries, the government will devise an IVRS-based response system through which beneficiaries will give their feedback. This apart, the state government will also provide the entire information under Aargoyasri (from registration to discharge) online. The state, through 104 helpline, will obtain information on beneficiaries from time-to-time.

Chandrababu Naidu has also instructed officials to monitor proper implementation of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), National Urban Health Mission (NHUM) and Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) and other health schemes.

In Uddanam region of Srikakulam where there is high prevalence of kidney diseases, the Chief Minister instructed officials to study bring international experts to study environment, health and sanitation conditions in the region and prevent them from occurring.

The Chief Minister also said the government will outsource doctors to make quality healthcare services available to poor people. He instructed officials to create awareness on chronic diseases and take steps to prevent them.