Rajiv Gandhi health scheme to cover Maharashtra in phases

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The Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayee Arogya Yojana, which was launched in eight districts of the Maharashtra, would cover the state in a phased manner, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said.

"People having an annual income of less than Rs 1 lakh per annum, would be given medical treatment up to a cost of Rs 1.5 lakh for free," he said at a function held recently. The scheme, which focuses on assistance and efficient service to the beneficiaries was launched in the eight district in the first phase.

For this scheme, state's expenses would go up by Rs 800 crore to Rs 1,000 crore, he said. The scheme is being implemented in a phased manner in three years and aims at benefitting about 2.5 crore families having an annual income of less than Rs 1 lakh and those belonging to the BPL families.

It will include 972 surgeries, therapies and procedures under 30 specialties with 121 follow-up packages.

The beneficiary families are being identified through district administrations based on their ration cards, Antyodaya Anna Yojana card (AAY), Annapurna card and orange ration card.

The state government also plans to implement emergency medical service scheme, in which, an ambulance could be called via a dedicated phone-line.

Government also plans to start services of 1,000 ambulances under the scheme.