Assam govt plans new health schemes for poor

The Assam government plans to soon launch "a number of new health schemes" for the poor and the needy sections of the society, said state's chief minister Tarun Gogoi.

"A number of new schemes are in the pipeline. A people-friendly scheme under the chief minister's 'Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme' aims at providing health facilities and services to BPL (below poverty line) and other economically weaker sections of the society," said Gogoi.  
Gogoi added that schemes like Arogya Nidhi, Sneha Sparsha, Congenital Heart Disease Scheme and Susrusha, launched by the Assam government in the past and emulated by other states would continue to be implemented vigorously. He said there was no fund crunch for implementation of various health schemes in the state.

"There's no fund crunch as made out to be. The state government has adequate funds to continue implementation of various health schemes," he said.

Meanwhile, a sum of Rs 6 crore has been earmarked this year for renal transplant scheme by the state government and Rs one lakh each is being provided to such patients. Under the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY) scheme, the state government has been releasing its share regularly, said Gogoi. Around Rs 6 crore has been allocated in this year's budget and Rs 5 crore was earmarked for the scheme last year, he added.

In addition, Gogoi said another Rs 2 crore has been budgeted this year for Arogya Nidhi scheme. "So far as Congenital Heart Disease scheme is concerned, Rs 6 crore has been allocated in this year's budget.