A pioneering healthcare policy has been approved by the Karnataka State Cabinet as part of its efforts to de-congest state-run super-specialty centers and to provide immediate relief to the economically disadvantaged. BPL (Below Poverty Line) cardholders will access free treatment at four major private hospitals in Bengaluru for the first time without the standard government referral letter.
Before that, Ayushman Bharat-Arogya Karnataka (AB-ArK) scheme patients were required to visit government institutes like Jayadeva or Kidwai before getting treatment. They could move to a private facility only if a "referral letter" was issued because of a shortage of beds or equipment. This new policy circumvents that obstacle altogether, offering direct access to premium private health care.
Selected "Big Four" Hospitals
This “Direct Access” model is piloted by the government which has identified four premier private institutions. Although the list is currently finalizing through the formal gazette notification process, the following hospitals are identified according to present Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements:
- St. John Medical College and Hospital
- KIMS Medical College and Hospital
- MS Ramaiah Memorial Hospital
- Ambedkar Medical College and Hospital
These hospitals were selected for their major cardiac, oncology, and nephrology departments, which are the most served facilities with referral traffic from government centers.
Why This Change Matters
The Cabinet’s decision, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, addresses a slew of long-standing problems:
- Eliminating Red Tape: The referral system was frequently called out as causing life-threatening delays. Easing that need for a “referral letter,” patients can save precious hours in emergencies.
- De-congesting Government Hubs: Hospitals such as Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology and Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology are serving with a load of at least 150%. Enabling patients to go directly to private partners will drastically shorten those waiting times at these state providers.
- Quality Care for All: It creates a link between rich and poor, so a BPL cardholder can access the same type of top-notch medical systems as a private-paying patient.
How to Avail the Facility
Beneficiaries must do one of the following to receive free treatment at these private hospital reserves:
- A valid BPL Card (Aahara card) and/or Ayushman Bharat-Arogya Karnataka (AB-ArK) ID.
- Aadhaar Card (linked to the state health database).
The government has also confirmed that the cost of these treatments will be paid by the Government to the private hospitals directly, through the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST), and reimbursed at pre-negotiated rates.
