Dharwad district lags in issuance of health cards

Hubballi: Dharwad district has recorded slow progress in issuing Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka cards (ABARK) introduced by the Union government.
There are 16 lakh people using BPL and APL cards who are eligible to get ABARK cards but the health department has issues only 4.5 lakh cards till now. Due to lack of awareness, many eligible people are not getting ABARK cards.
Under the Ayushman Bharat Mission of the ministry of health and family welfare, all needy patients are provided health care, free of cost.The health department is now conducting awareness programmes on regarding ABARK cards.
District health officer BC Karigoudar told TOI that under the scheme, families possessing BPL cards will get up to Rs 5 lakh for treatment in case they are admitted to hospital following severe complications. APL card holders will get Rs 1.5 lakh for treatment. Primary, secondary, tertiary care and emergency treatment will be given to card holders.
As many as 1,650 procedures are available under the scheme in government and private hospitals, he said.
Until now, only Aadhaar and ration cards were enough to avail the service. However, now it is mandatory to get the health card. So everyone in the district must get the ABARK card, said the health department.
“We have issued 4.5 lakh cards till today. But many beneficiaries are not coming forward to take the card. We have also launched awareness programmes in rural areas, slums and other areas so that more people get the benefit of this scheme,” the DHO said.
The cards are issued at KIMS, District Hospital, Bapuji Service Centre, Gram One centres at villages, in all taluk hospitals, urban PHCs and Karnataka One Centres. Aadhaar and ration card is mandatory to get the health card, he added.