India will spend $28 billion to start up an ambitious universal healthcare scheme to provide drugs, diagnostic tests and insurance cover to all citizens. The Health Ministry is in the process of finalizing a note for the Union Cabinet with an aim to get its approval in the next two months.
The scheme under the National Health Assurance Mission, to be rolled out in a phased manner from April next year, will cover the entire population while taking care of their healthcare needs by March, 2019. The startup plan will be implemented in four carefully selected districts in each state.
“We are preparing the scheme since it involves a lot of preparatory activities. We hope to launch it from the year 2015-16 in a phased manner,” Additional Secretary Health C.K. Mishra said. He said once fully operational, all Indian citizens will get free medicines, drugs and diagnostic tests in all government as well as private medical establishments across the country.
They added that around $13 billion will be spent annually under the scheme.
