The National Health Insurance Scheme may be extended to cover the above poverty line population as well from 1st July, industry body Assocham said quoting a senior Labour and Employment Ministry official.
“Hopefully, by 1st July 2009 Indian citizens above poverty line would have the Health Insurance Card in their possession to entitle them free insurance covered treatment in government as well as private hospitals,” Assocham quoted Director General, Labour Welfare in the ministry Anil Swarup saying.
As of now, people living below poverty line can avail the scheme to get free basic health facilities.
The Assocham release also quoted Swarup as saying that an official announcement in this regard could be made after the new government is formed.
Elections to the 15th Lok Sabha are underway and a new government is likely to be in place this month.
Assocham said that Swarup during a workshop on ‘knowledge of labour laws’ told the chamber that official decision has already been taken for extending the scheme to all Indians.
So far, four million people have been issued Health Insurance Card for which they paid a meagre premium of Rs 30 each, Assocham said.
The Ministry has set a target to cover 10 million BPL people to cover under the scheme in current fiscal, it said.
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