The government is likely to roll out its much touted National Health Assurance Mission (NHAM) in January, promising health insurance for all. The PMO asked the health ministry to work out the modalities of the scheme as well as revamp the existing Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) to expand its span to include universal coverage, Times Of India reported quoting an official.
RSBY, currently managed by the labour ministry, will also be soon transferred to the health ministry. "A decision to this effect has already been taken by the PMO," the official, who attended the meeting, told TOI. He said the PMO wants the ministry to expedite the streamlining of the scheme.
For the time being, RSBY will be part of NHAM which will be rolled out in phases. Gradually, the two will be merged as one policy, the official said. "The complete merger will take around three years," he said.
Improving public health has been high on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's agenda. Sources said the Cabinet secretariat and PMO have been regularly taking updates on the issue.
The government plans to offer a complete basket of services under NHAM. This would include 50 essential medicines, a package of diagnostic services as well as around 30 alternative medicines such as ayurveda, homeopathy etc. The benefits will be available to all citizens unlike RSBY which is mostly limited to below-poverty-line families.
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