State Bank of India will lend loans to poor heart patients under ‘SBI Hrudaya Suraksha Scheme’.The scheme was launched by Nobel laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus along with SBI Chairman O P Bhatt and RBI Deputy Governor V Leeladhar.However,Only the patients undergoing cardiac treatment at the Narayana Hrudayalaya in Bangalore can avail of the offer.Muhammad Yunus lauded this initiative.He expressed that each nation has its own vision of creating affordable health care system for all and banks can play a significant role by opening more opportunities like this.

Under this scheme,SBI would supposedly lend 80 per cent of the medical expenditure or Rs 50,000, whichever is lower,at an annual interest rate of 8.5%. Narayana Hrudayalaya chairman Dr Devi Prasad Shetty stated that since the hospital charges Rs 65,000 for the heart surgery of poor patients,the loan amount of Rs 50,000 can cover 80% of the cost of treatment.Dr.Shetty further added that the interest amount for the first three months will be borne by Narayana Hrudayalaya.The borrower will be obligated to pay off the loan in six months.

This scheme was launched to make heart care more affordable to the less privileged section of the society.SBI chairman O P Bhat was quoted to have said,”SBI Hrudaya Suraksha scheme is being launched as a pilot project to evaluate the concept of offering loan on low-interest terms for those below poverty line, earning less than $2 a day.” Reportedly,only 80,000 procedures are performed in various hospitals whereas 25 lakh heart procedures are needed per year.The beneficiaries of this scheme will be the ones referred by Narayana Hrudayalaya.The bank aims to lend loans to about 30-50 patients per month initially and thereafter they can increase the number.