Activity Description: The scheme was launched for the farmers of Karnataka who are members of agricultural cooperative societies. In the event of a sudden health problem, even the farmer who has some land and cattle finds himself at the mercy of the local moneylender who charges exorbitant rates of interest when he needs to deposit money for treatment. The scheme has proved to be a boon to the rural community who spirals into depths of debt and suicide, due to the illness, crop failure, famine and drought.

The Scheme now gives him the right to walk into a private hospital, avail of the best treatment without having to spend anything.

The scheme is also one of the best examples of efficient public-private partnership in health between a state government, rural cooperatives, public and private healthcare providers. The scheme was initiated by Dr Devi Shetty, Chairman, Narayana Hrudayalaya Institute of Medical Science, in association with the Department of Cooperation, Governement of Karnataka.

A Trust, which has representation from the doctor community, as well as the Government runs the scheme. The Government machinery already in place is used to reach the target population. The rural agricultural cooperative societies are governed by the Department of Cooperation and its organization. Using the existing channel of communication has brought down the administrative costs to the minimum. This also ensures the communication reaches each farming society even in the most remote part of the state.
The increasing memberships to the Scheme are an indication of the popularity and value of the Scheme.

The cornerstone of the Scheme is its partnerships. The Government provides support in terms of infrastructure for the scheme, the network of hospitals provide treatment for fee as well as complementary free consultation and discounts. The Hospitals also support the scheme by accepting a much-discounted rate for the services rendered.

Access to quality private Hospitals makes the Scheme attractive to the members, while access to such a large target population would not have been possible but through the Government machinery

Financial Model: The Yeshasvini Scheme collects Rs 120 annually from its members, which builds up the core fund. The Government compensates any shortfall in the finances. A Third Party Administrator has been employed by the Trust to administer the Scheme for a fee. In the year 2006-07, 1% of the premium collected was paid to the TPA as fees.
The premium collected from the members forms the core fund for the scheme. This amount is deposited with the Trust, which is then used to reimburse the Hospitals for the services rendered. The scheme also receives grants from the Government of Karnataka.