New ‘Health Protection for All’ initiative aims to cover families not included in existing medical assistance programmes
The Government of Kerala has approved the implementation of a Universal Health Coverage initiative to ensure healthcare protection for all sections of society. The announcement was made by Health Minister Veena George, who said the project aims to extend financial protection for treatment to families currently not covered under existing government schemes.
‘Health Protection for All’ Project Announced
In a social media post, Health Minister Veena George stated that the new “Health Protection for All” project has been designed to support people who are not included in major health insurance programmes such as Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi (KASP), Karunya Benevolent Fund, and MEDISEP.
The initiative was developed after extensive discussions and studies conducted over the past year under the direction of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Scheme to Benefit Lakhs of Families
The proposal was also discussed during the Vision 2031 review meetings, with the government aiming to bring relief to lakhs of families who currently do not receive financial assistance for medical treatment.
According to the minister, the state has significantly expanded its healthcare support systems over the years. Around a decade ago, government treatment assistance was limited to about ₹30,000 and benefited only around 40,000 families.
Existing Schemes Already Cover Millions
At present, families enrolled under the Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi receive treatment coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per year. The number of families holding KASP cards has increased to nearly 42 lakh across the state.
Additionally, families not covered under KASP but with an annual income below ₹3 lakh receive treatment assistance of up to ₹2 lakh under the Karunya Benevolent Fund. An additional benefit of up to ₹1 lakh is also provided for kidney-related diseases.
The Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi was introduced by the Kerala government in 2019 to expand healthcare coverage for economically weaker sections.
Proposal Prepared by Health Department in 2025
Health Minister Veena George said the proposal for comprehensive health protection was prepared by the state health department in 2025 after detailed discussions and analysis.
The project received approval during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in November last year. The scheme was also officially announced in the state Budget this year.
With the approval of Universal Health Coverage, the Kerala government aims to ensure that every family in the state has access to financial support for medical treatment, strengthening the state’s public healthcare system.
