World Health Day is celebrated on 7th April every year. Each year draws attention to a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world. The date of 7th April marks the Foundation anniversary of the World Health Organization (WHO), which was established in 1948. The theme for World Health Day 2024 is ‘My health, my right’.
Going with the theme, The CSR Journal takes a look into healthcare schemes offered by four states of India namely Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Haryana to benefit citizens, especially those who are marginalised and less privileged.
While the Govt of Odisha offers Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana, West Bengal Government offers the Swasthya Sathi scheme, Andhra Pradesh Government is enhancing healthcare of its residents through the Aarogyasri scheme while on Haryana Day last year, the state government expanded the benefits of Ayushman/Chirayu scheme and introduced a cashless health facility for govt employees, pensioners and journalists.
Naveen Patnaik Chief Minister of Odisha
Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana – Odisha
In December last year, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the third phase of the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY), the flagship health assurance scheme of his government, to cover rural poor families that were left out in the first two phases. Patnaik said with this third phase of expansion, it is estimated that over 1.10 crore families, covering nearly 90 per cent of the state’s population will be provided health assurance under BSKY. The chief minister said that the BSKY will ensure that no family in Odisha is left vulnerable due to lack of financial resources to meet high expenditure for critical illnesses.
As per the BSKY norms, the new beneficiaries will also be entitled to cashless care worth Rs 5 lakh per annum and the amount of coverage for women would be up to Rs 10 lakh in empanelled private hospitals both inside and outside the state. In the first phase of the BSKY, all services in public health facilities were made free of cost for all persons, irrespective of income or residence. In the second phase, BSKY provided cashless healthcare in private health facilities for all covered under Food Security Schemes and ration card holders. In the past five years, BSKY has provided free healthcare service to nearly 21 lakh patients with cashless healthcare of about Rs 4,500 crores, in private hospitals alone.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee
Swasthya Sathi scheme – West Bengal
Swasthya Sathi is a scheme that offers cashless hospitalisation up to Rs 5 lakh per family to those who cannot afford private healthcare across the state. The scheme was officially launched by Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee on 30th December 2016.
Main Features of the Scheme include basic health cover for secondary and tertiary care up to Rs. 5 lakh per annum per family. It is paperless, cashless and smart card based. All pre-existing diseases are covered. There is no cap on the family size and parents of both the spouse are included. All dependent physically challenged persons in the family are also covered.
The entire cost is borne by the State Government and no contribution from the beneficiary. Online Swathya Sathi Smart card is provided to each family on the day of Enrolment. Smart Card captures the details of the family members along with photographs, biometric, address, mobile number, caste ID etc. There is a 24X7 toll free Call Centre (18003455384) with feedback option along with Android based Swasthya Sathi Mobile app for assistance to the beneficiaries.
Swasthya Sathi covers 85 million people, providing up to Rs 500,000 in universal health insurance. The scheme helps around 7,000 people get treated at around 2,500 private hospitals and nursing homes every day, as per state government officials.
YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh
Aarogyasri scheme – Andhra Pradesh
The “Dr. YSR Aarogyasri Health Insurance Scheme” was launched in 2007 by the Govt. of Andhra Pradesh to provide financial aid to low-income families within the state. The scheme is a PPP model in the field of Health Insurance, tailor-made to the health needs of poor patients and provides end-to-end cashless services for identified diseases under secondary and tertiary care through a network of service providers from Government and private sector.
In December 2023, Andhra Pradesh government enhanced the coverage of its healthcare scheme for the poor, Dr YSR Aarogyasri, from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 25 lakh. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy said the revamped scheme will now provide free treatment costing up to Rs 25 lakh while expanding the coverage to about 4.25 crore people in the state under the purview of Aarogyasri. The treatment under the scheme is now being provided in 2,513 hospitals across the state, the Chief Minister said. The distribution of Smart Aarogyasri Cards with new features also started after the CM’s announcement of the upgraded scheme.
The state government bears the medical expenses for Aarogyasri card holders once their hospital bill crosses Rs 1,000. The state-sponsored health insurance scheme, meant to provide universal health coverage to BPL (Below Poverty Line) families, is run by the Dr YSR Aarogyasri Health Care Trust, in consultation with insurance and healthcare specialists. It includes a network of service providers from the government and private sector.
Manohar Lal Khattar Former Chief Minister of Haryana
Ayushman/Chirayu scheme and cashless health facility for govt employees – Haryana
On the occasion of Haryana Day, 1st November, 2023, Former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar launched two initiatives enhancing healthcare for residents of the state. The former Haryana CM extended coverage of the Ayushman/Chirayu scheme to families with annual income ranging from Rs 1.80 lakh to Rs 3 lakh. Earlier the scheme benefitted only families with an annual income below Rs 1.80 lakh. After expansion, the scheme will now benefit an additional 38,000 families.
On the occasion, another healthcare initiative was rolled out. This is a cashless health facility for government employees, pensioners, and accredited journalists and the entire expenditure under the scheme will be borne by the state government. Under this scheme, cashless treatment can be availed for 1,340 diseases across 569 empanelled hospitals in Haryana. The initial phase incorporates 894 employees from the fisheries and horticulture departments, encompassing 1,055 disease packages and 305 hospitals. Future plans include the extension of this scheme to other departments within the state.
