School Students set to get smart cards

School students will now be issued smart cards containing information about their annual health report as part of the National School Health Programme to be launched soon.

"We are discussing the modalities of this scheme with the Union Human Resources Development Ministry as part of our plans to ensure better health care for school children," Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said on  7 Nov 2007.

The government is planning to rope in NGOs and doctors as well as dental associations to help keep a tab on the scheme which would be operationalised by the end or middle of next year, Ramadoss said.

Under this programme, the students will undergo a complete health check-up, including testing of eyes and teeth.

If there anything is found wrong with the children, then they would be referred for further treatment, he said adding the cost of the treatment as well as the entire programme would be shared by the state government.

Apart from this, a separate subject on health will be introduced in schools, which will educate students on the entire gamut of health problems, including lifestyle diseases and common ailments.

"All students would be issued smart cards containing information regarding their health parameters to keep a check on their health problems if any," the minister said