Karnataka’s Gruha Arogya Yojana to Bring Free Medical Care to Your Home

BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah officially launched the Gruha Arogya Yojana on Thursday, a new initiative designed to bring essential healthcare services directly to people’s homes. The scheme aims to improve access to healthcare, particularly for vulnerable populations, by providing doorstep medical services.

The programme will initially be implemented in Kolar district, where there is a significant prevalence of hypertension—27.9% among men and 24.3% among women. Additionally, the district has a diabetes prevalence of 15.01% in males and 12.5% in females. The state government has committed a budget of Rs 92.75 crore to the scheme, with plans to expand its reach across Karnataka by January.

During the launch event, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah shared his personal journey of managing diabetes for over three decades. He underscored the importance of lifestyle management, including regular exercise, for controlling diabetes. Siddaramaiah also emphasized the scheme’s focus on providing healthcare to those unable to afford regular medical consultations, ensuring that essential health services reach every individual. He explained that the programme would prioritize the detection and treatment of both infectious and non-infectious diseases, particularly for economically disadvantaged groups.

Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao further elaborated on the scheme’s objectives, stating that the programme aims to monitor common conditions such as diabetes and hypertension while preventing serious complications like kidney failure and heart disease. He urged citizens to take advantage of this initiative and highlighted its broader goal of reducing the risks associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

In its second phase, Gruha Arogya Yojana will concentrate on follow-up care for chronic diseases. Regular health camps will be organized at wellness centres and public venues to manage non-communicable diseases through sustained monitoring and treatment.

The initiative targets adults aged 30 and above, offering screenings for diabetes, hypertension, and common cancers such as oral, breast, and cervical cancers. The programme will also include assessments for conditions like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and mental health issues.

Health teams, consisting of community health officers, primary healthcare workers, health inspectors, and ASHA workers, will visit homes within designated Ayushman Arogya Mandir areas to conduct these screenings. These visits will take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, covering the population systematically.

In addition to screenings, free medication for diabetes and hypertension will be provided during the visits. Special attention will be given to senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, and patients receiving palliative care. To ensure consistent care, monthly health camps will be held at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, where identified patients will receive ongoing treatment and follow-up care supervised by medical officers.