Amma COVID-19 Care scheme finds few takers in dists

Besides Chennai, about 160 patients in Vellore, and many from Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram have also opted for the scheme. But the interest is very low among those outside these districts.

As part of Amma Home COVID-19 Care scheme, facilities including 14 days of consultation for COVID-19 patients with 24/7 on-call consultation and medical officer monitoring and consultation from AYUSH doctors are offered. The package also includes psychological counselling, prescriptions and monitoring of oxygen levels and temperature, all at a total cost of Rs 2,500.

“The COVID-19 patients who are asymptomatic and only require home isolation generally use the home care scheme. The patients in Chennai have responded well to the scheme, as it has the highest number of cases in the State. Other districts like Coimbatore, Erode, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur and Tirupur that have patients in home isolation also need to encourage the scheme for the benefit of the patients,” said Dr Ananda Kumar, coordinator of the home care scheme.

The district authorities said patients were hesitant to pay for medical consultations in government hospitals and thus refrain from availing the home care scheme.