Delhi's state health scheme to cover more people

Written By: Admin | Updated : August 29, 2012 7:32 AM IST

The Delhi Cabinet decided to expand the umbrella of people who come under the popular Delhi Arogya Kosh, a health scheme which provided financial aid to the poor for medical treatment. Earlier the annual family income limit for people to avail the scheme was Rs 1 lakh but now it s been hiked to Rs 2 lakh. The amount provided for medical assistance has also been hiked from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.

The decision was taken in a cabinet meeting chaired by CM Sheila Dikshit. It has also been decided that treatment will be available in all government hospitals central, state or local. Dikshid said the scheme needs to be more effective. The annual family income limit of Rs 1 lakh has been enhanced to Rs 2 lakh for being eligible for DAK aid. We will also raise the upper limit of assistance from Rs 1.5 lakh for heart, cancer and kidney diseases to Rs 5 lakh or 100 per cent of the estimated cost of treatment, whichever is less, said Dikshit.

The upper limit of assistance for diseases requiring kidney transplant, bone marrow transplant or liver transplant has been raised from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh or 100 per cent of the estimated cost, whichever is less, said Dikshit. She said the annual assistance of Rs 1.5 lakh for diseases requiring dialysis has been changed to Rs 1,500 per dialysis, including cost of drugs if treatment is done in a private hospital. Applicants must have lived in Delhi for at least three years. The cabinet has also given its nod to set up a 200-bed hospital in Burari in north Delhi at an estimated cost of Rs 208.11 crore. The proposed hospital is expected to provide comprehensive healthcare to locals and people in neighbouring areas, particularly the poor. The hospital will also act as a referral institute for patients from nearby areas. It will also act as a referral institute for patients sent from health centres and dispensaries in adjoining areas. A 1.6-hectare plot has been acquired for the hospital; it will have a total plinth area of 48,159 sqm.