Karunya Benevolent Fund: The compassionate touch which changed the life of Persons with Hemophilia of Kerala
"Karunyam" means compassion or mercy. The Government of Kerala has aptly named the Benevolent Scheme "Karunya".
Karunya Benevolent Fund, the Health Service Scheme that finances treatment expenses of poor sections in the society. It is run by the revenue earned from Karunya Lottery by the Government of Kerala.
Persons from poor economic background suffering from Cancer, Hemophilia, Kidney disorders, Heart diseases and those who are on Palliative Care get financial assistance through the Scheme.
Finance Minister, Shri K M Mani announced the Karunya Benevolent Fund in his 2011-2012 Budget. Karunya lotteries were started in October 2011, and on 26 February 2012, the then Minister for Defence, Government of India, Shri A K Antony inaugurated the State level Karunya Benevolent Fund. A State Committee presided by the Finance Minister and District Committees presided by District Collectors were formed.
Karunya even attracted those who were not in the habit of trying their luck.
Initially, the help was in the form of financial assistance of a maximum amount of Rupees Two lakhs per patient. Patients from BPL families and also from APL families whose annual income is less than Rs.2.5 lakhs per annum would be eligible for the Scheme. Also, financial assistance was limited to only one person of a beneficiary family.
Because of the continuous lobbying by the Hemophilia Societies of Kerala and well wishers, Hemophilia was included in the Karunya Benevolent Fund. Initially, only PwHs in the BPL category were included.
When the high cost of the treatment was brought into the notice of the Government,those belonging to the APL category were also included.
The support in the free factors had a ceiling of Rupees Two lakhs for their entire lifetime.
In the Government Order 403/2013 dated 18-05-2013, it was decided that if there is more than 1 PwH in a family, the benefits be given so that each PwH received treatment upto Rupees Two lakhs, instead of the earlier guidelines saying only one patient from a beneficiary family could avail the benefits.
Finally, in the Government Order 1445/2015 dated 18-5-2015. Government of Kerala, Department of Health and Family Welfare, and Kerala Medical Services Corporation ordered to provide free factor therapy to all Persons with Hemophilia registered in the scheme for their entire lifetime, irrespective of the APL /BPL category.
Factors VIII, IX, VII a and FEIBA are available through the Karunya Benevolent Fund (KBF).
There are around 1200 Persons with Hemophilia in Kerala.
Around 996 have registered in KBF and 850 have registered in the Samashwasam III project by the Social Security Mission of Government of Kerala which provides a monthly pension of One thousand Rupees.
A unique KBF ID is given to all the registered PwHs. Free factors can be obtained from Karunya Pharmacy on submitting prescription from treating doctor working in the Government sector. The amount corresponding to the cost of the factors will be deducted from the PwH's KBF account.
The pharmacy provides a bill to keep records of consumption.
Upon infusion of the Factor concentrates, the cartons with the empty vials should be submitted to the Karunya pharmacy along with the Utilisation Certificate given by the treating doctor. The certificate also has a patient / guardian declaration of utilisation of factors.
Only upon submission of these will the beneficiary get Factor concentrates again.
The Karunya Stores have a separate counter too for KBF beneficiaries so that they can obtain the factors easily.
However, the fact that it runs solely by the revenue from Karunya lotteries and that there is no other budget allocation for Hemophilia is a matter of concern.
Also, free factor therapy is available only to the registered PwHs. The Government Hospitals do not stock Factor concentrates. Hence, unregistered PwHs will have to buy Factor Concentrates out of their own pockets.
Also, there may not be sufficient stock at times.
---- Hemant Naidu Pulijala, Dr.Anupama Pattiyeri
&Team RedLegacy !
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