AP extends free medical coverage to Rs 25 lakh
4.25 cr people from 1, 48,000 lakh families will be covered under the scheme
Vijayawada: In a first of its kind, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday launched the enhanced beneficial YSR Aarogyasri scheme to extend free medical treatment up to Rs 25 lakh and making it applicable to all people having annual income up to Rs 5 lakh.
Launching the new scheme virtually from the camp office art Tadepalli near here, he described it as unprecedented in the country and said 4.25 crore people from 1, 48,000 lakh families will be covered under the scheme. He also formally launched the distribution of new YSR Aarogyasri cards.
The revolutionary step will prevent people from falling into debt trap due to increasing cost of medical treatment, he said, adding that MLAs, staff of village secretariats, volunteers, ANMs and ASHA workers will involve in the massive public awareness campaign from Tuesday on how to use the enhanced free medical treatment for 3257 ailments and procedures at 2513 hospitals.
Reddy said medical treatment under Aarogyasri will also be available at 85 Hyderabad super speciality hospitals, 35 Bengaluru hospitals and 16 Chennai hospitals and stated that the number of people who received treatment under the scheme has gone up to 53 lakhs now from 22,32,000 in TDP rule.
The government has been gradually expanding the network of medical facilities every year, and as a result, the number of 104 and 108 vehicles has gone up to 936 from 226 in TDP rule while adding 17 new medical colleges to the existing 11 and filling up 53, 126 doctors, nurses and para medical staff vacancies to cater to the growing needs.
