Centre says no to Delhi govt's 'aam aadmi' in its health scheme

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has rejected Delhi government's proposal to change the name of Centre's Ayushman Bharat-National Health Protection Scheme to Aam Aadmi Mukhya Mantri Swasthya Bima Yojana-Ayushman Bharat. The name suggested by Delhi government lays emphasis on 'Aam Aadmi' and 'Mukhya Mantri' (Chief Minister).

The Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government had suggested the name as one of its conditions to adopt the scheme. According to the sources in the health department, the state government will put up the proposal again.

"We have been told that the name of the scheme will not be changed," said a senior state government official. "We are now waiting for the letter from the Ministry, and then we will raise the matter with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Health minister Satyendar Jain."

Ayushman Bharat CEO Dr Indu Bhushan confirmed the development. "They can keep it state specific, but the national outlook should be given priority. The Delhi government has not reverted yet," he said.

The health insurance scheme aims to provide a coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family annually and benefit more than 10 crore poor families across India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day speech, said his government will launch the Ayushman Bharat healthcare scheme on September 25.

"This is PM Modi's ambitious scheme for the people of India," said a senior official from the Union Health Ministry, "It should not be moulded into any kind of political vendetta. If any state has to adopt the scheme, it cannot tamper with the originality."

The Prime Minister had said the programme's technology will be tested in the next month to make it foolproof. The scheme is aimed at the families of the poor, deprived rural citizens and identified occupational category of urban workers. As per the latest Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC), there are 8.03 crore persons in these categories in rural areas, and 2.33 crore persons in urban areas.

The Centre has allocated Rs 10,000 crore for the project to cover 50 crore people, and it claims to be the world's largest government-funded healthcare insurance programme. It is yet to release its share of funds to the states. The Health Ministry has included 1,354 packages in the scheme under which treatment for coronary bypass, knee replacements and stenting, among others, would be provided at 15-20 per cent cheaper rates than the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS).

All In The Name

• The Delhi govt suggested changing the name to Aam Aadmi Mukhya Mantri Swasthya Bima Yojana-Ayushman Bharat
• The Arvind Kejriwal-led government put change of name down as one of its conditions to adopt the scheme