SRINAGAR, NOVEMBER 29 (KNO) : Chief Minister’s Grievance Cell today urged the Government to formulate a comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme for all, especially for poor.
According to the Coordinator, CM’s Grievance Cell Tassaduq Hussain Mufti the financially weaker sections of society are forced to approach different quarters after exhausting their savings as the cost of diagnostics and treatment of various life-threatening diseases is very high, both within and outside the state.
Reiterating the need for developing a comprehensive health insurance policy for all, especially the poor, Tassaduq Mufti said the policy would improve health access and facilitate universal health care, besides addressing the problem in a more organized manner. He said the objective of the health insurance scheme should be to provide financial coverage or risk protection by reducing the out of pocket payment for healthcare to the poor.
He suggested that the Government could adopt RSBY (RashtriyaSwasthyaBimaYojna) component of National Health Mission for the entire State or State can have its own health insurance policy modelled on RSBY pattern whereby a part of the premium shall be provided by the beneficiary household and the rest of it shall be contributed by the Government.
According to Tassaduq Mufti, the formulation of such a comprehensive health insurance scheme would not only save lives, but will also increase the access of poor households to quality health care, and also lead to other economic multiplier effects like the growth of private investment in health-care service delivery.(KNO)