Karnataka awaits clarity on Centre's share for Vaya Vandana health scheme
The Karnataka government has expressed its willingness to implement the Ayushman Vaya Vandana health insurance scheme for citizens aged 70 and above, but is waiting for the Centre to clarify its financial contribution before taking a final decision.
Health and Family Welfare Minister U.T. Khader told reporters in Mangaluru on Thursday that the State is keen to roll out the scheme, provided the Union government spells out its funding commitment. “Without clarity from the Centre about its financial commitment, it is difficult for the State to make an estimate about its contribution for implementing the Vaya Vandana scheme,” he said.
Mr. Khader added that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar will shortly write to the Centre in this regard to ensure the scheme is implemented in the State.
The Ayushman Vaya Vandana scheme was announced by the Union government as an extension of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), specifically targeting senior citizens above 70 years of age. The scheme aims to provide health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per year for eligible beneficiaries.
The State currently runs the Ayushman Bharat-Arogya Karnataka (AB-ArK) scheme, which has been in force since 2018. This scheme is converged with the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana – Chief Minister's Arogya Karnataka (ABPMJAY-CMArK) scheme. Under this, below-poverty-line (BPL) families receive a health cover of ₹5 lakh, while non-BPL families receive ₹1.5 lakh. The coverage includes those aged 70 and above.
According to Mr. Khader, the Centre's contribution of 60% for the ABPMJAY-CMArK scheme is based on the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data of 2011. The State bears 40% of the cost for those covered under the SECC 2011 list, and 100% for those not covered under it and for above-poverty-line families.
The implementation of the Vaya Vandana scheme would require a separate funding arrangement, as it is designed for all senior citizens above 70, regardless of their economic status. The State government is seeking clarity on how the central share will be computed and whether the existing SECC data will be used or a new list will be prepared.
In a related development, the State government is also working on implementing the Sandhya Kiran health scheme for retired State government employees aged between 60 and 70 years. This scheme is intended to provide additional health coverage for this specific group.
The Karnataka Arogya Sanjeevini Scheme (KASS) for government employees is being streamlined. The Minister said that reimbursement rates are being revised in line with the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), and the list of covered procedures is being expanded to more than 3,000.
On emergency health services, Mr. Khader said steps are being taken to procure 450 new ambulances within three months, which would increase the State's ambulance fleet to 750. He instructed Regional Transport Offices not to delay the renewal of fitness certificates for government ambulances.
The Minister also announced that bike ambulances, which were launched in 2013 but stopped operations after a short period, will be back in service shortly. More than 100 bike ambulances will start operating in Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Belagavi, and other cities across the State.
