The Karnataka Cabinet has approved the rollout of an Aadhaar-linked universal health coverage scheme in the state from November 1.

The State government is planning to merge seven running schemes – the Vajpayee Arogyasri, Yashaswini, Jyothi Sanjivini, Mukhyamantri Santhwana Harish Scheme, JananiShishu Suraksha Karyakram, Rajiv Arogya Bhagya, Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana – into one universal health scheme, covering 1.4 crore households.

Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister TB Jayachandra said, “Universal health coverage or Arogya Bhagya will operate on the principle ‘Treatment First and Payment Next’. Also the scheme will eliminate overlapping of existing health schemes and reduce duplication of fund release.”

“Regardless of income, all citizens can get enrolled for the scheme. The annual cost to the exchequer is expected to be around ₹869.4 crore,” he added.

He said the government would fix rates for the secondary and tertiary services in private hospitals.

Administrative approval has been given to construct superspeciality hospitals on the premises of KR Hospital in Mysuru at a cost of ₹123.77 crore and equipment cost of ₹37.62 crore; at Belgaum Institute of Medical Sciences, Belgavi, at a cost of ₹140 crore and equipment cost of ₹54.22 crore; and at Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences, Kalaburgi, at a cost of ₹107.60 crore and equipment cost of ₹41.21 crore.

To improve and upgrade Bengaluru’s infrastructure, the Cabinet gave administrative approval for a package of works amounting to ₹105 crore and tender approval for taking up Tender SURE road works in Gandhinagar, Majestic, KR Market areas.

Also, approval has been granted for white topping of select roads in Bengaluru city at an estimated cost of ₹292 crore.

Approval was also given to release ₹1.61 crore for construction of vehicular underpass in front of Bengaluru International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) on Bengaluru-Nelamangala section of National Highway 4.

The Cabinet also accorded sanction to borrow ₹1,500 crore under IEBR by Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam Ltd for the year 2017-18 and providing government guarantee.

The Cabinet approved guarantee to a loan to be taken by Karnataka State Cooperative Marketing Federation as working capital loan from banks for the year 2017-18. The funds are to be used for fertilizer buffer stocking scheme.

Approval was also given for Backward Classes Welfare Department for its pre-metric and ashram schools for the year 2017-18 to procure nirmala kits from Karnataka Soaps and Detergent Ltd at a cost of ₹6.50 crore.