Date:26/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/26/stories/2008112650460300.htm

Karnataka - Gulbarga

Insurance scheme to be launched on December 13

Special Correspondent

Arthritis camp and Continuing Medical Education Programme organised on the
same day

GULBARGA: Sparsh Hospital will launch “Sparsh-Kavacha”, its accident insurance scheme at the cheapest premium rates in the country, in Gulbarga on December 13.

Chairman of the super-speciality hospital Sharan Shivaraj Patil told presspersons here on Sunday that although the scheme had been informally introduced at the Bangalore branch of the hospital, its official launch in the State would be in Gulbarga.

Dr. Patil said that on paying a premium of Rs. 300 a year, beneficiaries would be covered under domestic, road traffic and industrial accident insurance cover. In case of an accident that required hospitalisation, the insurance coverage would be up to Rs. 1 lakh and in case of death due to accident, Rs. 1 lakh would be paid to the victim’s family. Besides, the insurance cover for out-patient treatment due to accidents would be up to Rs. 10,000.

He said the beneficiaries could avail themselves of the treatment in any of the networked hospitals in the country for free treatment and claim reimbursement for treatments in the non-networked hospitals.

Dr. Patil, who hails from Gulbarga district, said that owing to his attachment to Gulbarga and its people, he decided to extend the services of Sparsh Hospital to patients here and a comprehensive plan had been drawn in this regard.

He said the entire team of the hospital would be in the city for two days from December 13 to start a comprehensive health camp in coordination with the Rotary Club here and launch telemedicine facility. On December 13, the hospital would also organise an arthritis camp and a Continuing Medical Education Programme for doctors.

On the second day, a health camp would be organised in the city and free consultation would be provided by the team of doctors.

To a question, Dr. Patil said that the Sparsh Hospital proposed to start a super-speciality hospital for orthopaedics, neurosurgery, plastic surgery and maxillofacial surgery in Gulbarga and had started the process of looking for a suitable land.