Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

In an attempt to cater to the concerns arising about the funding of the National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) announced in the Budget, Health Minister J P Nadda today assured that no financial glitch would come up in the program. He said that the Centre was working out on the nuances of the program.

The National Health Protection Scheme is currently announced as the world’s largest government-funded health care programme. It will help 10 crore poor families by providing coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary health care.

JP Nadda on the source of finance for NHPS

Answering questions about the source of payment he said-

“The government will pay for the premium with state’s share. For this Rs. 2,000 crore has been kept for it as of now.”

“History is a witness that whatever we (the BJP-led government) have committed, we have completed. That is why finance is not the problem, has never been the problem and will never remain a problem,” Nadda said.

“We are confident about the scheme. Finances will never be a problem. Details will be given out as soon as we are ready to implement it,” he added.

Families will no longer crumble under medicare burden.’

Additional announcement in health budget

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced in the budget the National Health Protection Scheme. The health budget this year saw an upward trend of 11.5%. A health scheme and a nutritional support scheme for TB patients was also announced in addition. The support scheme will ensure that patients stick on to the complete course of medicines and nutritional support. It will help curb multidrug-resistant TB in India.

”We are hopeful that this Budget will prove to be the game changer for us,” concluded Nadda.

By saket