NHPS: Centre to study Gujarat’s Mukhyamantri Amrutam Yojana

The central government would study Gujarat’s Mukhyamantri Amrutam (MA) Yojana and successful health schemes of other states while working out modalities of the “ambitious” National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS), which aims to cover 50 crore people. The scheme was announced in the Union Budget.

“This is a big and ambitious health protection scheme. Its modalities have to be worked out. There are many successful models in the country. In Gujarat, there is MA model, the Mukhyamantri Amrutam Yojana, there is another scheme in Tamil Nadu, and there is Arogya Shree in Andhra Pradesh. The government will study these schemes,” Adhia said while speaking at IIMA.

The senior official said that different states have different models, and the choice will be given to them to opt for the insurance model or the trusts model.

“It need not be an insurance company. Even a trust of the government can handle the issue of empanelling hospitals, and ensuring that the poor get healthcare facilities without paying a single paisa,” he said.

Described as the world’s largest such programme, NHPS is aimed at providing coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family for secondary and tertiary healthcare to 10 crore families. However, the scheme has drawn ridicule for allocation …read more