Almost three years after the Kerala government implemented the Ayushman Bharat-Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhati (AB-KASP), the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) here has finally consented to empanel itself under the scheme, much to the relief of the KASP beneficiaries who have not been able to access free treatment from the premier healthcare institution till now.
An official statement from the Health Minister said that KASP will become operational at SCTIMST from April second week and that the State Health Agency (SHA), the implementing agency of KASP, will open a special kiosk at SCTIMST and provide training to the staff on operationalising KASP. As in the case of all empanelled hospitals under KASP, the beneficiaries of the Karunya Benevolent Fund can also seek free care from SCTIMST.
SCTIMST had remained stand-offish from empanelling itself under KASP right from the beginning, stating that the treatment package rates under KASP were inadequate and that it would push the institution, which was already under much financial distress, to incur huge losses annually.
