Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (NJC)
Mangaluru, Aug 6: Karnataka health minister U T Khader on Thursday announced a series of major healthcare initiatives aimed at strengthening public health services, improving emergency medical response, expanding health insurance coverage, and enhancing healthcare benefits for government employees, pensioners, and senior citizens.
Addressing a press conference at the Circuit House in Mangaluru, the minister said the government has finalized a comprehensive healthcare plan focused on improving access to quality medical services across the state.
To strengthen healthcare infrastructure, the government has initiated large-scale recruitment of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and laboratory technicians for primary health centres (PHCs). Around 200 MBBS doctors have already joined service in various districts over the past one-and-a-half months. Recruitment of nearly 1,000 additional healthcare personnel is currently underway, while approval has also been granted to recruit another 3,000 staff members.
The minister also announced a major upgrade to the state's emergency ambulance network. The government plans to deploy around 450 new 108 ambulances, increasing the total fleet to more than 750 ambulances across Karnataka. The new system aims to ensure ambulance response within 20 minutes in rural areas and 15 minutes in urban areas. In traffic-congested cities, 100 bike ambulances will be introduced to provide immediate emergency care and stabilize patients before they are shifted to hospitals. Service providers will face penalties if ambulances fail to meet the prescribed response time, while strict standards will be maintained for vehicle cleanliness, driver conduct, and maintenance.
Khader said the government is also working to strengthen the Ayushman Karnataka scheme so that patients referred from government hospitals can receive treatment at private hospitals without bearing out-of-pocket expenses. The scheme is being reviewed in consultation with medical experts and NGOs to improve its effectiveness and accessibility.
The government is also considering extending the benefits currently available to BPL beneficiaries under the scheme to eligible APL cardholders, with discussions already held with chief minister Siddaramaiah. An action plan for the expansion is being prepared.
The minister further announced the expansion of the Karnataka Arogya Sanjeevini Scheme for serving government employees. The scheme will increase the number of covered medical procedures from about 1,500 to nearly 3,000, while treatment package rates will be revised in line with the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) to encourage greater participation from hospitals.
For retired government employees, the government will introduce the Sandhya Kirana Scheme, a self-financed health coverage programme for pensioners aged 60 to 70 years and their family members. Under the scheme, 1.25 percent will be deducted from the monthly pension of the primary pensioner, while 0.75 percent will be deducted from the family pension after the pensioner's death. The scheme is intended to provide healthcare coverage until beneficiaries become eligible for senior citizen health programmes.
Khader also announced the proposed Vayo Vandana Scheme for all senior citizens aged 70 years and above. The government plans to extend the scheme to both APL and BPL families. However, the state is awaiting clarification from the Union government regarding beneficiary coverage and fund allocation before implementing the programme. The chief minister and the health minister have written to the Union health ministry seeking early approval and operational guidelines.
The minister said the initiatives reflect the state's commitment to providing accessible, affordable, and efficient healthcare services to people across Karnataka.