(ET)
The government expects the mega healthcare scheme announced in the Budget to cost only about Rs 10,000 crore annually, well below some independent estimates that peg the burden on the exchequer at about Rs 1 lakh crore.
The government is exploring both the trust and insurance models for the National Health Protection Scheme announced in the February 1 Budget that seeks to provide up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. It will cover 100 million families or 500 million people, assuming an average family size of five people.
The scheme, to be launched jointly with states, is expected to be rolled out in six to eight months and is envisaged as the world’s biggest healthcare programme. The government said it has provided for adequate funding with an additional 1% cess imposed in the Budget on income tax.
