Karnataka government has allocated Rs 95 crore to set up a new government hospital and modernize the primary health centres (PHC) in the State. While Rs 8 crore has been granted for the new government hospital in Bangalore which is coming up in Indiranagar, it has sanctioned Rs 87 crore to upgrade the primary healthcare centres, community health centres, taluka and district hospitals across the State, according to Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa.

The state government has also inked a pact with the Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI), a not-for-profit organization from Hyderabad to make available a round the clock free emergency response service, Arogya Kavacha to help people in an emergency.

There are 66 state-of-the-art ambulances fully equipped to handle any kind of emergency to operate in five districts of Bangalore, Bellary, Tumkur, Chitradurga, Davengere, and Bellary. The number of ambulances will be increased to 150 by March 2009 and the service will be extended to all the 29 districts by 2010 with 517 ambulances. The service can be availed via a toll free number 108.

EMRI has been providing emergency services in Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan and has so far saved 45,000 lives and it plans to save over a million lives by 2010, informed Venkat Changavalli, CEO, Emergency Management and Research Institute.

In an effort to provide affordable healthcare, the State government has also announced a new health scheme, 'Arogya Suraksha Yojana' whereby a free medical insurance is provided to the below the poverty line. The government will spend Rs 300 crore annually where in about 80 lakh people under the BPL would benefit. The scheme will offer free medical aid and health insurance to people. A maximum of Rs 1 lakh would be give in the case of casualty. It will also offer Rs 400 a year per family under the insurance scheme.