THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a major push to strengthen the state’s healthcare safety net, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has sanctioned an additional fund of ₹600 crore for the Karunya Health Schemes. The decision aims to address critical financial bottlenecks and streamline the settlement of pending claims that had previously disrupted medical benefits for thousands of underprivileged patients across Kerala.
The additional allocation of ₹600 crore has been distributed between the state’s major health welfare initiatives:
Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi (KASP): ₹300.71 crore has been released as additional authorization to settle pending claims.
Karunya Benevolent Fund (KBF): ₹293.62 crore has been sanctioned to clear medical financial assistance backlogs.
Breakdown of Funds Sanctioned in Current Financial Year
KASP Allocation: Budget Provision (₹592 crore) + Additional Authorization (₹307.10 crore) = ₹899.10 crore
Karunya Benevolent Fund: ₹293.62 crore
The health welfare programs had faced severe operational delays due to unpaid dues accumulated over previous years. The current administration highlighted that arrears amounting to ₹2,111.89 crore left by the former LDF government had thrown the medical assistance initiatives off track. With this fresh injection of funds, the state government aims to clear hospital pending bills and ensure seamless medical treatments for eligible beneficiaries without interruption.
