India launches ‘Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana’ in Uttar Pradesh
On 17th March, India’s largest state, Uttar Pradesh, launched a new health insurance scheme called ‘Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana’. The scheme aims to provide free medical treatment to all residents of the state, regardless of their financial background.
Under the scheme, each family in the state will be eligible for an insurance cover of up to Rs 5 lakh ($6,700) per year. The scheme will cover medical expenses for 1,554 illnesses, including critical illnesses such as cancer, kidney failure, and heart diseases. The scheme is expected to benefit over five crore families in the state.
The scheme was launched by the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, in the presence of Union Health Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya, and other dignitaries. Speaking at the launch event, the Chief Minister said, “This scheme is a step towards ensuring that no one in the state is left behind when it comes to access to quality healthcare. We are committed to making Uttar Pradesh a healthy state.”
The scheme is expected to provide a major boost to the healthcare sector in Uttar Pradesh, which has been struggling to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic. The state has recorded over 1.2 crore Covid-19 cases and over 17,000 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
The launch of the scheme has been widely praised by healthcare experts and the general public. Dr. Ravi Malik, President of the Indian Medical Association, said, “This is a historic initiative that will go a long way in improving the health outcomes of the people of Uttar Pradesh. We hope that other states will also follow suit and launch similar schemes.”
The scheme is also expected to have political implications, with the state heading for assembly elections next year. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been focusing on healthcare as a key issue in the run-up to the polls. The launch of the scheme is expected to boost the party’s electoral prospects.
Overall, the launch of the ‘Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana’ is being seen as a major step towards universal healthcare in India. With the scheme covering a wide range of medical expenses, it has the potential to benefit millions of people across the state, especially those from economically weaker sections.