Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja on Saturday responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s criticism that the state had not implemented Ayushman Bharat, the central health scheme. Modi had made this remark while addressing party workers on a visit to Kerala.
Responding to his statement, Shailaja said that the Prime Minister was misled as the state had joined the Ayushman Bharat scheme. “Kerala is part of Ayushman Bharat scheme. An MoU was signed on November 2, 2018, and measures have already been taken to ensure that the people of Kerala receive the benefit of the scheme. The first allotment under the scheme has also been sanctioned. It seems the Prime Minister has been misled by someone,” the minister said, hoping the PM would correct his statement.
Ayushman Bharat has been implemented in Kerala as the Karunya Health Scheme from April 1. According to reports, around 17 lakh people have registered themselves and around 1.45 lakh people received treatment through the scheme.
The state government even merged all existing health insurance schemes in the state to implement the Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padathi (KASP). Around Rs 60 lakh was given as part of the scheme for treatments since April.
Shailaja said that had the government directly implanted the central scheme, a majority of existing beneficiaries of other health schemes would have been excused from this scheme. A total of 41 lakh families benefited from these schemes and as per the central government norms, only 18.5 lakh families can be included in the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, she added.
It is unfortunate that the Prime Minister is making such statements when Kerala is taking big steps in the health sector, KK Shailaja added.