Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner KV Rajendra said on Thursday that a meeting of representatives of private hospitals under the Ayushman Bharat-Arogya Karnataka (ABARK) scheme will be held on 8 March to address the grievances of the scheme beneficiaries.
He was speaking at an event to distribute Ayushman Bharat cards to journalists at Mangaluru Press Club organized by Dakshina Kannada District Work Journalists Association here.
Dr. Rajendra said that he has already asked hospitals to do a minimum check on patients before being admitted so that their financial burden can be reduced. ABARK applies only after the patient is hospitalized.
DC said that more than 23,000 patients with 4,275 COVID-19 positives have reaped the benefits of ABARK in the district since its launch in 2018.
ABARK District Nodal Officer Ratnakar said that a referral letter of District Government Hospital is necessary for BPL card holder or other beneficiary of ABARK scheme to get treatment in private hospitals.
However, patients needing emergency medical care, including accident victims, can be admitted directly to the nearest Embedded Private Hospital without a referral letter and benefit from ABARK.
Dr. Ratnakar said that a patient in BPL category can get treatment up to 5 lakhs while non-BPLs can get up to 30% discount on treatment cost of 5 lakhs under ABARK.
This scheme was applicable only for treatment in general wards. Dr. Ratnakar said that the ABARK cell at the district level approved the entry within 30 minutes of being informed about the entry. Patient / family Dr. to obtain approval. Ratnakar (9880157604), dr. Jagannath Srilal (9480161055) or Dr. Can call Naushad (8197350823).
He said 35 private hospitals, including eight medical colleges, were placed in the district under ABARK, which caters to 1,650 diseases.
Dr. Ratnakar said that BPL beneficiaries of ABARK can get cataract surgery in six private hospitals of the district completely free of cost.
Dr. Rajendra distributed ABARK cards to some journalists on the occasion.
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