Centre to roll out health cover for everyone soon

The government is likely to roll out its muchtouted National Health Assurance Mission (NAHM) in January , promising health insurance for all. The PMO last week asked the health ministry to work out the modalities of the scheme as well as revamp the existing Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) to expand its span to include universal coverage, said an official.

RSBY, currently managed by the labour ministry , will also be transferred to the health ministry ."A decision to this effect has already been taken by the PMO," the official, who attended the meeting, told TOI.He said the PMO wants the ministry to expedite the streamlining of the scheme.

For the time being, RSBY will be part of NHAM which will be rolled out in phases.Gradually , the two will be merged as one policy , the official said. "The complete merger will take around three years," he said. Improving public health has been high on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's agenda. Sources said the Cabinet Secretariat and PMO have been regularly taking updates on the issue.

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