Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan For Merger Of 2 Health Plans

Hyderabad: With Rs 180 crore to make its way into the state via Ayushman Bharat, it is not easy to say no to the move to merge it with Aarogyasri.

Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, who held a meeting with health officials on Thursday, said, “My aim is health for all and the people must benefit from both the schemes.” The state government claims it does not need Ayushman Bharat.

In her meeting with Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, the Governor had taken up the issue of Ayushman Bharat. The meeting with health officials was a follow-up.

The benefit will allow dual coverage for patients. The Aarogyasri covers more diseases than Ayushman Bharat. But the stress of the latter scheme is on strengthening public health centres and wellness programmes. A senior official, on condition of anonymity, said, “There is a fund crunch. This is affecting the payments of Aarogyasri. If the Central scheme is also implemented, there will be a movement of funds from the Centre to State.-Deccan Chronicle