The Hindu

Udupi, May 10: Manipal University has introduced Manipal Arogya Card 2007 to provide quality healthcare at affordable cost to people.

Addressing presspersons here on Tuesday, Pro-Chancellor of the university H.S. Ballal said the card enabled members to avail themselves of large benefits by way of discounts on inpatient and outpatient treatment in various networked hospitals under Manipal Health Systems by paying a small sum as membership fee. The cardholder will also receive his investment back as discounts from two or three visits. Membership of the card will be open from May 10 to June 15.

The card is a scheme in which the discounts on treatment could be availed on pre-existing diseases as well. It is priced at Rs. 200 for an individual card and Rs. 450 for a family card. Family includes the cardholder, spouse, and any number of children below 21 years. An add-on card is also available for the parents of primary cardholders under the family card scheme for Rs. 100 per parent.

Free consultations with any specialist doctor any number of times during the year one of the benefits of the card.

The inpatient benefits include free bed charges in general ward with no nursing charges, no attendant charges, etc.There will be a 20 per cent discount on diagnostics and laboratory investigations.

The card offers 10 per cent additional discount on overall inpatient bills (excluding pharmacy and consumables) of senior citizens. A 10 per cent discount on all medicines purchased from the hospital pharmacy has been reintroduced.

Applications of the scheme are available at all networked hospitals under Manipal Health Systems.

A helpdesk has been set up at each hospital to provide more information about the card. A helpline (0820-2571967) has been set up to provide information about the scheme.