BJP-ruled Rajasthan, Maharashtra won’t join NHPM

Over the weekend Ayushman Bharat CEO Indu Bhushan met Rajasthan CM to discuss the matter

The unlikely flag of refusal on Ayushman Bharat has now gone up in two BJP ruled states – Maharashtra and Rajasthan.

Ayushman Bharat CEO Indu Bhushan met Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje on Friday to discuss the latter’s refusal to be a part of the ambitious National Health Protection Mission (NHPM). NHPM will provide an annual health cover of Rs 5 lakh to 10.74 crore families.

Odisha has already refused to implement the Centre’s flagship health programme, saying it has a scheme called Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana

Both Rajasthan and Maharashtra already have existing health protection schemes that cover more people than the proposed central scheme. SECC data on deprivations is to be used to determine NHPM entitlement.

Government sources say that Rajasthan government is not sure how to implement NHPM as there is already an ongoing scheme – Bhamashah Swasthya Bima Yojana, under which cashless health care services are provided to around 4.5 crore people.

“Moreover, the contract with the insurance company goes up till the next year. So they are thinking of finding a way of how to converge the two schemes so that the ongoing scheme is not disturbed,” the official said.

Maharashtra government has cited lack of funds as the reason for not implementing the scheme. The state government runs Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana, a flagship health insurance scheme, under which 2.2 crore people are provided an insurance cover up to Rs 2 lakh.

Odisha has already refused to implement the Centre’s flagship health programme, saying it has a scheme called Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana with more beneficiaries compared to the AB-NHPM.

Two other states — Punjab and Delhi — are yet to come on board.