October 6, 2010
Health Sciences Campus, Kochi
 

The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana has been hailed as India’s first successful attempt at providing social security nation-wide. This Yojana or scheme provides health insurance for the poorest of the poor in India.
 

Now poor patients wanting to be treated at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences will also be able to avail its benefits.
 

A letter of consent to this effect was formally handed over to the District Collector of Ernakulam, Dr. M. Beena, IAS by Dr. Prem Nair, Medical Director.
 

The District Collector spoke about the scheme and its benefits.
 

“Investment in health is the greatest investment a state can make,” she emphasized. “Many crises faced by families are related to medical complications.”
 

“The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana concentrates on the poorest people. Internationally, it has drawn a lot of attention; many countries have studied the scheme to implement in their own countries.”
 

“As far as the state of Kerala is concerned, 70% of the people depend on private hospitals for health care. Now that Amrita will participate in the scheme, it will be a great blessing for people in Ernakulam district as well as other districts of the state.”
 

Dr. Prem Nair elaborated on Amrita’s participation in the nation-wide scheme.
 

“Today is an important landmark for us here at Amrita,” he noted. “We are at the onset of one of the most important health care programs that has really changed the face of health care.”
 

“Although this is an exciting program, there are lots of challenges,” he cautioned. “The program is going to require focused attention and some change in behavior among physicians and other health care providers.”
 

Jointly promoted by the central and state governments for the benefit of below-poverty-line (BPL) patients, the scheme also makes provision for millions of genuinely poor patients whose names may not be listed in the state government lists or lists prepared as per guidelines of the planning commission.
 

“The scheme covers around 37 lakh families in the state,” informed Mr. Unnithan, Head of Marketing Services at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences. “It is indeed a great boon to the poor families.”
 

We hope that the scheme, now being implemented in Amrita, will pave the way for a healthier district, a healthier state, and a healthier tomorrow.