Karnataka will be the first state in the country to launch 'Yashasvini' a unique health insurance in the country for farmers. The scheme, which will enable farmers to avail medical facilities including operations free of cost which was launched on November 14, by the Karnataka chief minister SM Krishna.

The scheme which is launched by the Karnataka Co-operative Department in association with Narayana Hrudayalaya, a notable heart hospital in the State and insurance firms, National and United Insurance companies will enable farmers and their families to avail medical facilities for kidney problem and other serious ailments free of cost at 35-45 hospitals across Karnataka. At least one lakh farmers will be registered under the scheme on November 14.

Under the scheme, only those who are having membership of any cooperative society for more than six months will be covered on being enrolled after the payment of a nominal premium of Rs. 5 per month. Even the spouse and the dependent children of the insured farmer can get enrolled in the scheme upon payment of additional monthly premium of Rs. 5 per head. The government will be bearing a part of the premium.

The scheme provides for full surgery costs for even complicated procedures for ailments of heart, kidney, neuro and even cancer at specified hospitals and nursing homes throughout the state. The insured persons will also be entitled for free out-patient consultations and 30-50 percent rebate on medical treatments for normal illness.

Karnataka's minister for Co-operation H Vishwanath said the target is to bring 50 lakh farmers under the scheme. Initially, 25 lakh farmers would be registered. The registration of members to the scheme would be taken up through milk unions and farmers co-operative society. The State government's contribution to the scheme will be announced by Chief minister Krishna, he added.

The State government lauded the efforts of the leading cardiac care facility in Bangalore, Narayana Hrudayalaya that played a key role in evolving the scheme over a period of three months.

According to Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty, managing director, Narayana Hrudayalaya the Yashasvini scheme would be a boon to the farmers. The basic problem of farmers and rural poor in availing medical treatment was affordability and the scheme was tailored to meet such requirements. While the number of people suffering from serious complications requiring major surgeries was not big, the moist common ailments pertained to problems like appendix, gall bladder, cataracts, fractures and bone injuries due to fall besides uterine complications in women.

The scheme would be monitored by representatives of non-governmental organisations who will be acting as co-ordinators between the insurance companies, government and the insured farmers, Dr. Shetty said.

As far as possible the insured people will be provided treatment in hospitals nearest to their residence while patients requiring major surgeries might be referred to specialised hospitals in Bangalore.

At present, most of the hospitals recognised under the scheme are private hospitals and added that private hospitals too will be brought under the scheme soon. Goa, Kerala and West Bengal have expressed interest in having such a scheme. The scheme would be launched in Goa in the next three month, Dr. Shetty added.