National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS), a national insurance scheme that will be effective from April 1, is likely to provide insurance cover to 70 per cent of the population.

By this scheme, each family will get health cover up to ₹1 lakh as opposed to ₹30,000 under the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), the current health insurance scheme. An additional ₹30,000 will be provided for senior citizens under the NHPS.

Speaking on the sidelines of Association of Healthcare Providers India (AHPI) Conclave-2017, Girdhar J Gyani, Director-General, AHPI, said since the number of hospitals added to the network will increase including primary, secondary and tertiary care hospitals, it will potentially improve overall healthcare in the country. Right now there are 18,000 hospitals under the RSBY.

Gyani said the organisation has also recommended setting rates for procedures scientifically. “The current rate fixed for reimbursement is very low and not arrived scientifically. So hospitals are either reluctant to be a part of the scheme or cut corners to compensate for that loss. Either way, it is the common man who is affected,” he said.

S Gurushankar, President, AHPI (TN Chapter) and Chairman, Meenakshi Mission Hospital, Madurai, said, “To improve efficiency of the scheme, the option of co-payment should be included as that will empower patients.” This will be beneficial for middle-class families that cannot afford the entire treatment but can pay a little more to the hospital for advanced care.

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