ANANTAPUR: Even corporate health services would come in the reach of those below poverty line with the introduction of community health insurance scheme "Arogya Sri" by the State Government, district Collector D. Kadmiel said here on Wednesday.

Poor people having chronic diseases and other health problems could get treated even in corporate hospitals with the help of the health insurance scheme, he said. All poor families having white ration cards are eligible for the scheme.

At a review meeting convened with Government doctors here, he said the scheme would be implemented in the district on experimental basis from March 31 along with Mahabubnagar and Srikakulam districts in the State. Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy has conceived the scheme so that the poor can bear high cost of treatment.

He urged the government doctors to create awareness among the poor about the scheme and how they could get their chronic diseases treated with the help of the scheme. He also suggested the Star Health Insurance company to ensure timely treatment to those covered under the scheme.

There were about 9.3 lakh families below poverty line in the district, the Collector noted and said the insurance scheme would cover six major chronic ailments covering treatment and surgery costs up to Rs. 2 lakhs per year.

State Coordinator of Arogya Sri Sharath Chandra, Joint Director Chandrasekhar Reddy and other officials were present.

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