The Andhra Pradesh Government has decided to launch a universal health insurance scheme to meet the health needs of children who are suffering from various ailments. Children under the age of 12 and belonging to below poverty line families are likely to be brought under the scheme. The State Government will finalise the modalities soon and is currently studying a similar scheme that is being implemented in Karnataka.

There are about two lakh children under 12 years who are suffering from heart ailments in AP and it is estimated that 20,000 more children add to this number every year. The government is planning to organize medical camps at all district headquarters to identify the children suffering from heart diseases.

Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy, chief minister, AP, said on Monday, the government would upgrade all the 10 government teaching hospitals along with Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) and Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS) to equip them with necessary infrastructure.

These decisions had been taken by the government at an all-party meeting held at Hyderabad to discuss the health care related issues, after a demand was made by families of 1,000 children who are suffering from heart diseases for financial assistance from the State Government.