Worli resident first to avail of new government health plan for the needy

    For the last four years, Worli resident Dattatray More, a former mill worker, has been putting off his surgery for want of money. Today, as the 63-year-old is set to undergo the bypass surgery, he will be the first patient to avail of the state government's health scheme for the needy. 

    More, who has blockages in both arteries, is the first patient in the state to undergo the surgery under the Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayee Aarogya Yojana set to be launched on July 1. He will be operated upon at Seven Hills Hospital, Marol. 
    "I'm happy that my surgery will be done at an expensive private hospital, thanks to this scheme," said More. 
    Under the health scheme, the state will treat needy patients for 972 major and minor ailments. The state will contribute Rs 1.5 lakh and the patient will not pay anything. The criterion to avail of this facility is that a person should be a holder of a yellow or orange ration card – annual income less than Rs 1 lakh – after which a health card will be issued.With this health card the holder can get admitted to any hospital which is empanelled under the state health scheme. 
    The scheme takes off in eight districts of the state – Mumbai city, Mumbai suburban, Raigad, Gadchiroli, Amravati, Dhule, Solapur and Nanded. 
    Although the state health department was keen to launch the scheme last month, some hospitals were reluctant to participate as they were not in agreement with the cost factor. 
    "A few charitable hospitals are still hesitant and the chief secretary is in discussion with the association of hospitals," said Health Minister Suresh Shetty. 
    Around 14 private hospitals in the city are part of the scheme while 115 hospitals are on the panel in eight districts. 
    "Around 20 lakh health cards have been distributed across eight districts. However, a patient who needs emergency care but has not taken a health card can approach an empanelled hospital with the orange or yellow ration card," said chief executive officer of the scheme Dr K Venkatesh. 
GETTING A HEALTH CARD 
You can get a health card from your ration shop. 
    If you hold a yellow or orange ration card, you can meet the medical social worker at a hospital which is empanelled with the state scheme, and avail of treatment. 
    Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr Raj Karwa, who is attached to this health mission, said that medical camps were organised across the city as a precursor to launching of the scheme.

Dattatray More, who will be operated on today, shows his health card