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One of the biggest challenges governments around the world face is providing quality healthcare to the people. While most developed countries have built good public health systems, the rest are still unable to provide even basic facilities and services to its citizens. Amid concerns raised by many over low allocation of funds towards the healthcare sector, the government of India launched welfare schemes like the Ayushman Bharat Yojana or PMJAY, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana (AABY), Employees' State Insurance Scheme (ESIS), Central Government Health Scheme, etc. over the last few years. The government also launched the National Health Policy, 2017, with the aim to provide universal health coverage and quality healthcare services to its citizens at an affordable cost. The Centre’s welfare schemes may not be adequate for many; may take some years to reach all the deserving people; and cause burden to the state exchequer but it’s a much-needed and laudable move. It gives health security to millions of families, especially those living below the poverty line, who face the risk of falling into a debt trap due to borrowing money for payment of hospital bills. Any healthcare scheme will alleviate the burden of the people.
Considering the growing need for schemes in line with the National Health Policy to address increasing medical expenditures, Rajasthan announced Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana last year to provide health insurance for all its permanent residents living below the poverty line, followed by a handful of other states. The government of Nagaland rolled out the Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme (CMHIS) last week, a few months after it was announced in its budget for the fiscal 2021-22. It’s a commendable and brave move for a revenue-starved state like Nagaland, the second north-eastern state to introduce such a scheme. And unlike the ones announced by some states, the CMHIS ensures universal health coverage for its citizens by covering up to INR 5 lakh per family per annum on floater basis for those in CMHIS general category and up to INR 20 lakh per family per annum on floater basis for CMHIS employees/pensioners. Now, for the success of this ambitious programme, the state health agencies and departments should work on its implementation. The general public too should come forward to enroll as the registration window for the scheme is open. Positive response from the state-based private hospitals to state government’s call for empanelment with the scheme will also help address the issue of high out-of-pocket expenditure in healthcare. Healthcare is a necessity that everyone must have access to, and we have to work together to make quality healthcare a reality for all.