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Government to implement National Health Protection Scheme this year: Arun Jaitley

Government to implement National Health Protection Scheme this year: Arun Jaitley

Arun Jaitley

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Finance Secretary Hasmukh Adhia had previously noted that it would take another six months for the scheme to be worked out

The ambitious National Health Protection Scheme will be implemented by the end of the year, the Finance Minister told Rajya Sabha earlier today.

The scheme plans to provide Rs 5 lakh annual medical insurance cover to 10 crore poor and needy families in the country. Modi government's pilot health scheme was announced in the Budget 2018-19.

"I believe that once the work starts, the scheme will be fully implemented by the end of the year," Jaitley said in Rajya Sabha today.

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Finance Secretary Hasmukh Adhia had previously noted that it would take another six months for the scheme to be worked out and that the same may not get implemented in this financial year.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley allocated a relatively small sum -- of Rs 2,000 crore -- for the Ayushman Bharat health scheme. The yojna was described and touted as the world's largest government-funded healthcare programme in Jaitley's budget speech with an aim to provide medical insurance to around 50 crore poor people.

The Finance Minister later clarified and noted the amount to be an initial outlay and that more funds would be made available to the scheme.