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Nongovernmental organizations and a health insurance company on Wednesday launched an indemnity program for people living with HIV in the Indian state of Karnataka, The Hindu reports. The program -- the first base of its kind in India -- was launched by Population Services International, the Karnataka Network for Positive People and the insurance company Star Health and Allied Insurance (The Hindu, 8/14). The programme also is supported by USAID.
More than 250 HIV-positive people will be included in the project's initial stages, according to the Hindustan Times (Sharma, Hindustan Times, 8/13). The group wellness plan testament provide coverage worth 30,000 rupees -- or about $700 -- for HIV-positive citizenry, including 15,000 rupees -- or about $350 -- for hospitalization at the oncoming of AIDS and $350 for discourse. The insurance premium of 1,500 rupees -- or about $30 -- will be subsidised by up to 50% by the groups byzantine in the program, according to the Indian Express.
The programme was introduced in the districts of Bangalore, Bellary, Kolar, Mangalore, Mysore and Udupi. Hospitals have been told about the programme and instructed not to turn away people living with HIV, according to C.P. Udayachandran, assistant frailty president at Star Health and Allied. Although India's National AIDS Control Organisation is not directly involved in the program, NACO has started speaking with insurance companies at the national stratum to acquire a nationwide plan for people living with HIV and their families, the Express reports. NACO Director Sujatha Rao said, "We are trying to work on an insurance policy that will provide a package of services. We want to include regular healthy hoi polloi and families of those with HIV." According to Rao, a "scheme for only [HIV-positive people] would mean higher premiums" (Indian Express, 8/14).
The programme is a "milestone in the competitiveness against the discrimination of people living with HIV," Asha Ramaiah, general secretary of the Karnataka network, said, adding, "This health insurance volition allow us to get the best possible treatment and change the perception that we are a financial burden on our families." Rao added that the program is a "first whole step to breakage down fiscal barriers of HIV-positive people in accessing treatment" (Hindustan Times, 8/13).
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