CM launches health card

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, AUG. 30. The Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, on Thursday, launched the health card of Yashoda Super Speciality Hospitals which will entitle its holders to a number of discounts on diagnostic tests, room tariff and theatre charges.

Commending the scheme, targeted at the middle class, Mr. Naidu said unless corporate and super speciality hospitals extended a helping hand it would not be possible for the Government to ensure better healthcare for the common man.

Later, addressing a press conference, the Managing Director of Yashoda Hospitals, Mr. Ravinder Rao, and the Executive Director, Mr. G.S. Rao, said the card would cover four members of a family, irrespective of age and known diseases. The fee of Rs.5,000 would be refunded in full without interest on completion of three years.

Members would get 50 per cent discount on all diagnostic services, including CT scan and MRI, at Somajiguda and Malakpet, 25 per cent concession on doctors' fees, room tariff and theatre charges, free ambulance service and immediate treatment without initial payment at the time of admission. The health card would be available from September 10 to October 10 with the option of foreclosure if the rush is too heavy.

They held that the scheme would be viable since it was a kind of insurance where expenses are shared by each other. Experience had shown that only 20 per cent of cardholders used it. Moreover, the hospital was in a sound financial position registering a turnover of Rs.50 crores - a surplus of Rs.15 crores last year.

On expansion plans, they said a 400-bed hospital was proposed to be set up near the MCH office in Secunderabad by 2002 with an investment of Rs.60 crores raising the bed strength of the group to 1,000. It was also proposed to forge a tie-up with district hospitals for tele-medicine and negotiations were on with Reliance to acquire band width.

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Section  : Southern States
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