The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Arogyasri to be extended to other States

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Thursday, Feb 21, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Arogyasri to be extended to other States

Panabaka Lakshmi favours private hospitals implementing the scheme

Critics urged not to blow up health scheme shortcomings, if any
Urban health mission will be constituted in two months: Panabaka Lakshmi

HYDERABAD: The State government’s Rajiv Arogyasri health insurance scheme is being extended to other parts of the country, Union Minister of State for Health Panabaka Lakshmi announced on the sidelines of the three-day meeting of the Indian Society for the Study of Reproduction and Fertility here on Wednesday.

She sought to dispel criticism against the scheme and said that it was indeed benefiting the poor.

During a recent visit to CARE Hospital, she was told that it was treating a large number of patients under the scheme.

While urging the critics not to blow up the shortcomings, if any, the Minister spoke in support of private hospitals implementing Arogyasri, stating that they had the required equipment and treatment facilities.

She announced that the urban health mission would be constituted in two months. The assistance extended to pregnant women who underwent institutional deliveries would be increased from Rs.1,000 to Rs. 1,400.

Vouchers

To avoid any irregularities in the payment, the beneficiaries would be allowed to collect cash through vouchers.

Earlier, inaugurating a three-day symposium on ‘Recent trends in reproductive health research’, as part of the meeting, she called for research to advance new reproductive health technologies for providing additional choices in contraception, abortion, maternal health and STI/HIV prevention for the population.

She presented the Dr. T.C. Anand Kumar Gold Medal to C.P. Puri, president of the society for novelty in research.

Justice B. Subhashan Reddy, Chairman, Andhra Pradesh State Human Rights Commission, V. Ramana Devi, member-secretary, Andhra Pradesh Council of Science and Technology, Lalji Singh, chairperson of the conference, Iran Consul-General Hossein Ravesh spoke.

Roya Rozati, organising secretary, proposed a vote of thanks.

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