Unimpressed with PMJAY, Delhi to roll out universal health scheme
NEW DELHI: The Delhi government has not yet given its approval for implementing Centre's health insurance scheme which aims to provide a coverage of Rs five lakh per family annually and benefit more than 10 crore poor families across India.
The Ayushman Bharat Scheme was launched by the Modi government in Jharkhand. According to Delhi government official, "Ayushman Bharat Scheme covers only five lakh families of national Capital, while AAP government is interested to cover more than 70 lakh families, those are ration card holders in the national Capital."
According to Directorate of Health of Delhi, the draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) sent by the Union Health Ministry is still being examined. The central government is taking into account the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data of 2011 to ascertain the beneficiaries under the scheme. While the Aam Aadmi Party government is planning to provide health insurance for all.
"The Universal Health Insurance Scheme" will be introduced to cover treatment of citizens of Delhi in empaneled private hospitals and government hospitals. "We will also provide trauma services with reduced response time at congested areas of east Delhi. First Responder Vehicles with 16 motorcycles will be started," the Delhi government official said.
It is pertinent to mention that the Delhi government has allocated Rs 6,729 crore for the health sector which is 13 percent of the total Budget. A health insurance-for-all scheme will be launched for which Rs 100 crore has been allocated, said a senior health official.
"The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has termed the much-hyped Ayushman Bharat Scheme of the Modi government as another white elephant in the making. PM Modi launched the scheme in Jharkhand on Sunday," reads the statement.
Health sector has remained among the AAP government's top two focus areas with comparatively higher allocations, the other being education. However, experts pointed that several previous promises such as revamping government hospitals, adding more beds to them and ramping up infrastructure, are yet to see the light of day.
While 188 mohalla clinics are currently functional in Delhi, the AAP government has set a target of setting up 1000 such clinics. The mohalla clinics provide free primary healthcare to home.
The Delhi government plans to add 2,546 new beds in seven hospitals - Deen Dayal Upadhyay, Ambedkar, GTB, Lok Nayak, GB Pant, Sanjay Gandhi and Hedgwar - by remodelling or expansion. In Burari, a super-specialty hospital that was flagged off by the AAP government in 2015, continues to await completion.
