Sunday, May 30, 2004
Sunday, May 30, 2004 |
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By Our Staff Reporter
CHENNAI, MAY 29. The Centre proposes to introduce a comprehensive health insurance policy for the rural population, the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, R. Anbumani, said here today. "We are thinking of it in a big way," he said, talking to reporters at the Communicable Diseases Hospital, Tondiarpet. Though details are yet to be worked out, the scheme will focus on people living in villages, including poor farmers. The Government will also focus on improving basic medical infrastructure in villages. "Eighty per cent of medical facilities are in the cities while 80 per cent of the people live in villages. We will have to bridge this gap," he said. The Prime Minister, he said, asked the Ministry to lay emphasis on reaching every village where medical facilities were not available. Dr. Anbumani said the Government was planning to provide free anti-retroviral drugs to people living with HIV/AIDS. However, the anti-retroviral treatment was expensive and the continuity of the scheme would depend on resources. The Government was planning to hold discussions with pharmaceutical companies to help to bring down the cost of the drug. A total revamp of the Central Government Health Scheme was on the cards, Dr. Anbumani said. The Ministry received complaints especially about the ordeal faced by senior citizens due to non-availability of drugs and long queues outside the CGHS centres. The Ministry would focus on improving emergency medical services. The Government is striving to eradicate polio by 2005, Dr. Anbumani said.
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