Jagan calls for a transparent, irregularity-free Aarogyasri scheme

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy directed officials to strengthen the Aarogyasri scheme, and make it transparent and free from irregularities. During a meeting to review the medical and health sector held at the camp office here on 28 June Jagan emphasised reinforcing the patient referral procedure under the scheme and instructed officials to make village clinics referral centers.

A letter should be given to the beneficiaries who avail of the scheme, mentioning the benefit received along with a confirmation‌ document with details of Aarogya Aasara. The officials were also told to continue the DBT method to credit Aarogya Aasara amount into the accounts of beneficiaries.

Further, the Chief Minister advised the officials to open special accounts for Aarogyasri beneficiaries to directly credit the money provided under the scheme that will then be transferred to the hospitals that treated them.

Jagan said the Arogya Mitras need to be more proactive and stated that strict action must be taken if anyone demands additional money apart from what the government is spending on patient treatment. He said patients should be escorted from admission to discharge, and feedback should be taken from them on services received. The CM instructed the authorities to bring more medical treatments under Aarogyasri and focus on providing free treatment under the scheme if the cost of treatment exceeds Rs. 1,000.

Discussing 104, 108 services, he ordered the authorities to make them corruption-free and display the numbers on vehicles to lodge complaints. The Chief Minister said there shouldn't be any shortage of staff in government hospitals and directed the officials to appoint the required staff. He also advised them to use the services of retired physicians or seniors in the field. He told them to complete the entire process by 26 July.

40,188 posts filled in medical, health dept

In regard to filling vacancies in government and teaching hospitals, the officials told the CM that so far 40,188 posts have been filled in the medical and health department and recruitment is on to fill 1,132 posts. They said 176 new PHCs require 2,072 staff members and the recruitment process shall take off soon after the construction is complete.