Kerala approves Universal Health Coverage scheme to enhance healthcare access
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Government has issued an order approving the implementation of Universal Health Coverage, aimed at ensuring health protection for all sections of society, said Health Minister Veena George.
In a Facebook post, the minister said the scheme was formulated to provide health coverage to people who are not included in existing programmes such as the Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi (KASP), Karunya Benevolent Fund, MEDISEP and other insurance schemes.
The decision to launch the "Health Protection for All" project was taken following discussions and studies held at various levels over the past year, based on the direction of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, she said, news agency PTI reported.
The matter was also discussed during the Vision 2031 review meetings, she added, noting that the new scheme is expected to bring relief to lakhs of families who are not members of any treatment assistance programme, the minister added.
George said around 10 years ago, the treatment assistance provided by the government was only Rs 30,000, and it was limited to about 40,000 families.
At present, families enrolled under the KASP scheme are provided treatment coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per year, and the number of families holding KASP cards has increased to around 42 lakh in the state, she said.
Apart from this, families not included in KASP and having an annual income below Rs 3 lakh are being provided treatment assistance of up to Rs 2 lakh under the Karunya Benevolent Fund scheme, along with an additional benefit of up to Rs 1 lakh for kidney-related diseases.
The Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi was implemented by the state government in 2019.
The proposal for comprehensive health protection was prepared by the Health Department in 2025 after detailed discussions and analysis, George said.
A meeting chaired by the Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, in November approved moving forward with the project, and the scheme was also announced in the state Budget this year, the minister said.
