Bhatkal gets its first Ayushman Bharat-enabled Hospital as Life Care hospital get’s government’s nod
Bhatkal: People of Bhatkal and nearby towns will no longer have to travel far for availing the benefits of the government’s Ayushman Bharat health scheme. Life Care Hospital, Bhatkal has now introduced the Ayushman facility, making it the first private hospital in the town to do so.
The announcement was made by Mohammed Yunus Kazia, President of Anjuman Hami-e-Muslimeen Bhatkal and Director of Life Care Hospital. He said that patients can now use their ration card and Aadhaar card to access healthcare services under the scheme.
Explaining the facility, Kazia said that most of the treatment expenses of Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration card holders will be covered by the government. For Above Poverty Line (APL) card holders, up to 30 percent of costs will be borne. In case of emergencies, whether it is surgery or urgent medical care, patients will be given immediate assistance once certified by the doctors.
Speaking at the launch, Kazia said the hospital had been working for nearly three years to bring this facility to Bhatkal. “We are very happy to have an experienced team including Dr Kenneth, Dr Nawab and others who are committed to serving the community. With Ayushman Bharat services now available here, patients do not need to travel to Mangalore or other cities for treatment,” he said.
He thanked Minister Mankal Vaidya, senior Congress leader R.V. Deshpande, District Health Officer Dr Neeraj, and Taluk Health Officer Dr Savita for their support in enabling the facility. Kazia added that Life Care Hospital is determined to provide city-level medical facilities in Bhatkal itself and requested cooperation from the public and media to spread awareness about the scheme.
Hospital’ Managing Director, Salman Jubapu, while addressing the gathering, announced a new initiative called the “Privilege Card” which will provide healthcare benefits to media professionals and their families at Life Care Hospital.
Later, speaking to Vartha Bharati, he also highlighted that Life Care Hospital is the first private hospital in Bhatkal to offer both Ayushman Bharat and Karnataka Arogya facilities. Until now, the nearest hospitals offering these benefits were in Honnavar on one side and Kundapur on the other, which caused difficulties for patients from Bhatkal.
Jubapu added that the hospital management is now working to bring in more services such as ESI and other insurance-based healthcare to support the local population, who still depend heavily on hospitals in Manipal, Kundapur, and Mangalore.
He stressed that people of the region need to place their trust in local medical institutions. “For the last four to five decades, people have been depending on hospitals in Mangalore and Kundapur. That is why it is difficult for them to understand and believe that similar quality healthcare can be provided here in Bhatkal itself. Our services are on par with other cities, but people need to give us that chance,” he said.
When asked if the hospital was prepared to handle the rise in patient numbers with the introduction of Ayushman services, Jubapu said the management is ready. “We are planning to convert our special wards into general wards so that we can accommodate more patients,” he explained.
Expansion and cath lab plan
Sharing the hospital’s future vision, Jubapu revealed plans to expand infrastructure and introduce specialized facilities. He said he is working passionately to set up a cath lab in Bhatkal, which will allow doctors to perform minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat heart and blood vessel problems.
At present, the nearest cath lab to Bhatkal is in Udupi, around 90 km away, while the next option is in Hubballi, which takes six to eight hours to reach. “If we succeed, this will be a big milestone for Bhatkal and surrounding areas,” he added.
With the launch of the Ayushman Bharat scheme at Life Care Hospital, thousands of families in and around Bhatkal stand to benefit. For people who earlier had to depend on hospitals in distant towns for even emergency needs, this marks a turning point.
For the first time, quality treatment under government health insurance is now available locally. The move not only reduces the burden on families but also promises to strengthen the healthcare system of Bhatkal, giving people the confidence that they no longer need to leave their town to access advanced medical facilities.
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Maoist carrying bounty of Rs 15 lakh among four killed in gunfight with security forces in J’khand
Hazaribag (PTI): Four Maoists, including one carrying a reward of Rs 15 lakh on his head, were killed in a gunfight with security forces in Jharkhand's Hazaribag district on Friday, police officials said.
The encounter took place in the Khapia forest area within the Keredari police station limits, following a tip-off.
"Four Maoists were killed in a gunfight with joint forces in 'Operation KotiNeer'. The Maoists killed have been identified as regional committee member Sahdeo Maho, carrying a reward of Rs 15 lakh, Ranjit Ganjhu, Zonal committee member, carrying a reward of Rs 10 lakh," IG, CRPF, Saket Kumar Singh told mediapersons.
The remaining two are Area Commander Budhan Karmali, carrying a reward of Rs one lakh and sub-zonal committee member Natasha, a woman who hailed from Gadchiroli in Maharashtra.
SDPO of Barkagaon, Pawan Kumar, said that no security personnel were injured in the operation.
The Maoists killed were wanted in about 80 cases.
With the encounter, only 57 Maoists are left in the state, the IG said.
A number of arms were also recovered during the operation including two AK 47 and one INSAS rifles.
The development comes close on the heels of a fierce exchange of fire between a Maoist squad headed by Misir Besra, who carries a bounty of Rs 1 crore, and police personnel on April 15 in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum. Four security personnel were injured in the encounter.
The Centre has already informed the state governments that there are no Naxal violence-affected districts in the country, more than five decades since Left Wing Extremism (LWE) originated in India.
The declaration followed a high-level security review held earlier this month by the Ministry of Home Affairs under the mandated 'National Policy and Action Plan to Address Left Wing Extremism' formulated in 2015.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah informed Parliament on March 30 that India was free from Maoists.
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