Health schemes to come under Rajiv Arogyasri

Chief Minister YS Rajasekahara Reddy on Sunday said that the three ongoing schemes of Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI-108), Health Management and Research Institute (HMRI-1056), and the Health Insurance Scheme for the poor (Arogyasri) and National Health Mission, would come under one integrated programme, Rajiv Arogyasri (Rajiv Health Mission).

The new integrated programme is expected to be officially launched on August 15, 2007.

The entire network of the scheme, including emergency management and insurance coverage across the state, has been proposed to be completed in one year.

Satyam is successfully implementing a similar programme (EMRI-108) in Hyderabad.

The unique feature of the programme is that it would be operated and maintained by the Satyam Foundation in cooperation with other corporates though the Rajiv Arogyasri continues to be a government programme.

The other organisations and individuals involved with the initiative include the Indian School of Business, Public Health Foundation of India, McKinsey, and CK Prahlad, the Chief Minister's Office said.

The programme is expected to cost Rs 1,000-crore initially. 1056 will now be changed to a 3-digit number.

Ramalinga Raju, chairman, Satyam Foundation, who was present at the meeting held by the chief minister on the proposed programme on Sunday, said it is going to be the world's best health programme by any standards.

The scheme will provide free emergency anywhere, any time in Andhra Pradesh to be implemented by EMRI in a public-private partnership framework with 95 per cent funding from the state government.