In his Independence Day speech on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the launch of Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana Abhiyan(Ayushman Bharat). According to a Moneycontrol report, the government-funded health insurance scheme will be initially launched only in government hospitals as private hospitals have been reluctant to join in.
On the birth anniversary of Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Deendayal Upadhyay on September 25, the scheme will be launched.
A senior government officer commented, “It is a misconception that only private hospitals have good facilities. The government also provide quality healthcare services.”
The Ayushman Bharat scheme also called Modicare, will cover about 500 million people providing them with Rs 5 lakh health insurance completely free of cost. As per the socio-economic caste census (SECC) 2011 data, the families coming in the lower income groups will be included in the scheme, reported Moneycontrol.
Under the scheme, private hospitals have asked for the increase in the package rates citing proposed rates as unattainable. The price proposed in the model tender has created an argument between the government and private hospitals.
It is expected that during the first year of its implementation, Rs 20,000 crore will be spent, of which Rs 12,000 crore will be contributed by the Central government and the rest Rs 8,000 crore will be incurred by the States.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Modi while launching the Ayushman Bharat scheme said that the scheme will be tested to make it foolproof across the country. He also announced the construction of new hospitals in Tier-2 and 3 cities.