Tata Trusts on Monday announced a hub-and-spoke Telemedicine Network, covering a population of about 10 lakh people spread over 265 Gram Panchayats in Vijayawada rural parliamentary constituency to supplement the public primary health care service. The Trusts also announced extension of a family health insurance plan, Swastha Kutumbam, free of cost for one more year, which will reduce out-of-pocket and hospitalisation expenses of people in these 265 villages.
These are part of Tata Trusts’ multi-thematic approach to support holistic development in Andhra Pradesh with projects running in Vijayawada, Krishna district and across the state. The actions cover implementation of village-specific development plans, healthcare, livelihood and skill development, digital education, nutrition, sanitation, awareness about and usage of the Internet, among others. A pan India health protection scheme is still far from reality though the proposal was sent to the Union cabinet in November 2016.
Speaking at the launch of the Telemedicine Network, Yanamala Ramakrishnudu Andhra Pradesh’s Minister for Finance & Legislative affairs, said, “Health is very important for the growth of a society. Even with extensive support from the government there is a lot of scope for improvement for the health care system. It is heartening to see Tata Trusts taking up innovative community health initiatives like Tele medicine, especially at this scale.”
R Pavithra Kumar, Head South Zone Operations of Tata Trusts, said, “Healthcare is a major area of focus for the Trusts, and we operate on the guiding principle that no citizen should be deprived of care owing to lack access or affordability. Initiatives like Swastha Kutumbam are endeavours to solve the access challenge. We are grateful to the state for enabling us to work with the public health system to carry care closer to people’s homes.”
The Telemedicine Network will comprise a hub with doctors, located in Vijayawada, and 20 health centres spread across rural Vijayawada parliamentary constituency, and two mobile medical care units for outreach health services. The network is expected to increase access to and availability of health care, reducing morbidity due to common non-communicable diseases. Simultaneously, it will result in 20 to 25% reduction in out-of-pocket expenditure on consulting, diagnostics and medicines.
Swastha Kutumbam family insurance scheme, piloted in 2016, is being extended for a period of another year. It covers surgical, medical management and maternity procedures, outpatient services, and diagnostic and pathology requests, up to Rs.1 lakh per family, in private corporate hospitals. About 89 hospitals in and around Krishna district and other important locations are already on board. A joint initiative of the Trusts and Star Health Insurance Pvt. Ltd., it supplements the government’s NTR Vaidya Seva.
