The Union Cabinet’s approval to the launch of the new National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) – world’s largest government-funded healthcare programme – is an endorsement of the commitment of the government towards public health and improving health outcomes of the nation.
NHPS seeks to provide INR 5 lakh medical coverage per family per year to 10 crore poor and vulnerable families. The government also plans to strengthen preventive and primary healthcare delivery in the country with 1.5 lakh health and wellness centres.
“The government’s endeavour to roll out the transformational NHPS is an assurance to improve health of the nation’s 40% population vulnerable to catastrophic health expenditures. FICCI welcomes and supports NHPS and appreciates the government’s recognition to engage with the private sector”, saidMr. Pankaj R. Patel, Immediate Past President, FICCI.
Speaking about the far-reaching social programme, Dr. Arvind Lal, Chair, FICCI Health Services Committee and CMD, Dr. Lal PathLabs, said “the new National Health Protection Scheme has the potential to lift people out of poverty by reducing their out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures. However, there is a need for an effective implementation framework that includes appropriate participation from all stakeholders”.
“It is expected that the new healthcare programme will boost the healthcare infrastructure development and strengthen the healthcare workforce. Main focus of the scheme should be on enhancing the quality of care through operational efficiencies and appropriate use of technology throughout the continuum of care”, said Dr. Alok Roy, Co-Chair, FICCI Health Services Committee and Chairman, Medica Group of Hospitals.
Mr. Girish Rao, Chair, FICCI Health Insurance Committee and CMD, Vidal Healthcare added that “NHPS is a great news from a citizen?s point of view. The scheme can leverage from the significant experience of the health insurers in technological innovation, pricing insights, claims data, and on-ground intelligence on fraud control. As an industry body, we look forward to partnering with the government in this game-changing act”.
Dr. Narottam Puri, Advisor, FICCI Health Services and Health Insurance Committee and Board Member & Former Chairman of NABH, said that “with NHPS, healthcare has come centre stage in terms of its social, economic and political influence; and therefore, there is optimism for a win-win result amongst all stakeholders.
FICCI has been working extensively in the health sector on tenets that are integral to success of NHPS, such as Standard Treatment Guidelines, National Costing Guidelines, National EHR Standards, Bridging the Skill Gaps, Standards for health insurance processes, PPP in healthcare, Nursing Reforms, Fraud and abuse control in health insurance and categorisation of hospitals.