The Hindu Business Line : AP CM stresses on promoting health insurance

The Chief Minister, Dr Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, lighting the lamp to mark the inauguration of the 6th international Congress of British International Doctors Association in Hyderabad on Sunday. The Tourism Minister, Dr J. Geetha Reddy, the British International Doctors Association Chairman, Dr S. Prasad Rao, and the President, Dr Surendra Kumar, are also seen. — Mohammed Yousuf

Hyderabad , Oct. 16

THE Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has stressed on the need to promote health insurance in a big way to effectively address the healthcare problems of the middleclass population in the society.

While the Government hospitals are taking care of the healthcare needs of the poorer sections of the society, it is largely the middleclass population that suffers from the prohibitively expensive medical services in the private hospitals, the Chief Minister said.

Addressing the sixth International Congress of British International Doctors Association (BIDA) here on Sunday, Dr Reddy said though the health insurance is prevalent in most of the developed countries, it is yet to take off adequately in India.

He was of the view that health insurance cover at nominal premium could effectively address the healthcare needs of the population at large.

Stating that thousands of doctors from the Indian subcontinent were leaving for the UK and US in search of greener pastures every year, the Chief Minister said a large number of them were returning home disillusioned owing to several bottlenecks abroad. While advising them to take an informed decision before leaving the country, he said the people in the motherland deserved their services than anyone.

He urged them to come back after their higher studies abroad and serve the nation.

The State Tourism and Industries Minister, Dr J. Geeta Reddy, said Andhra Pradesh was emerging as the medical capital of the country.

The country in general and the State in particular offered a bouquet of various medical practices that include allopathy, ayurveda, unani and homeopathy.

Citing the study conducted by the Confederation of Indian Industry on the medical tourism opportunities Indian can offer, she said the country has the potential to attract a minimum of one million patients and provide an income of $5-billion.

On the occasion, the BIDA has awarded the Dr Reddy's Laboratories Chairman, Dr K. Anji Reddy, and the Chairman of Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Mr Bollineni Krishnaiah, with Lifetime Achievement Awards for their pioneering contribution to the Indian pharmaceutical industry and corporate healthcare, respectively.

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