In T. Narasipura, the three main health facilities have been provided with a wireless sets and computes for faster communication and maintenance of database. The health facilities are also connected to Karuna trust office. Also the Karuna Trust ambulance at the general hospital is connected through wireless to facilitate the placement in times of emergency such as snakebites etc. Hardware and software for the insurance policy was installed.
To contain the costs, it was decided not to have photos on the insurance certificate given to the members as proof of their membership. The costs of insurance certificate /without photograph of members) came to only 35 Paise per certificate.
Functioning of the Scheme
Coming to the management part of the Scheme, a room in the hospital is given to the NGO. The NGO has a computer in which the database is kept. A social health worker, posted in the hospital, keeps track of claims as well as intermediates between patients who are members of the scheme and the insurance company. When a patient is hospitalised s/he receives wage loss on daily basis. Since claims are settled with the insurance company with some time lag, the need for setting up of a fund was felt. Accordingly, a revolving fund was set up by KT at the general hospital for immediate payment of claims, which are settled with insurance company on weekly basis. The NGO maintained a close vigil on claims. The social worker at the hospital not only checked against false claims but also tried to ensure that the genuine members did not fail to make a claim. From the in-patient register the social worker at the hospital crosschecks with SC/ST patients if they received any certificate from Karuna Trust so that they could avail of the benefit of the scheme. This way there was active case finding by social workers deputed at health centres and field staff. Besides keeping a check on claims, social workers were also involved in marketing, documentation and liasing with insurance company. Centre for Population Dynamics has been monitoring the project every month. KT prepares quarterly progress reports and submits them to GOI, GOK, UNDP and other project partners.
