Poor status of health cover in India: NSS (National Sample survey)

• Recently a survey was released by NSS(National Sample survey) on the status of health insurance cover in India.
• In India Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) was launched in 2008 to provide health insurance cover to the poor.
• Bu this survey show the poor performance of this scheme because only 12% of the urban and 13% of the rural population had access to insurance cover.
• In urban areas, over 90% of the poorest residents are not covered, while the figure is 66% for the richest residents. so, we can say that poverty playing an important role in this poor status of health cover in India.
• Private doctors are the single-most significant source of treatment in both rural and urban areas. 72% of the treatment provided in rural areas and 79% in urban areas was availed in the private sector.
• However there is slight increase in public sector access in both rural and urban areas as compared to last survey

About RashtriyaSwasthya Beema Yojana

• Launched 2008.
• Health insurance coverage for BPL Families.
• Hospitalisation cover up to INR 30,000 for most of illnesses that require hospitalization.
• Pre-existing conditions covered right from day one and there is no upper age-limit.
• Coverage extends up to 5 members of the family that includes: a) Head of the house b) Spouse and c) 3 children
• Beneficiaries have to pay just a nominal fees of Rs 30 as registration fee.
• Premium is to taken care by the State and Central Government.
• Insurer is selected by the State government through competitive bidding.

Analysis:

• The absence of physical medical facility has been a minor roadblock for not going for medical consultation.
• The biggest hurdle in seeking medical treatment was financial constraint.
• Also despite spending money on advertisement, people are still not well informed about the benefits that can accrue to them through RSBY.
• There are poor infrastructural and care care facilities in public health centres and hospitals which drives people for private care., where the costs are sky high making it non-viable avenue for poors.
• There is also a lack of capacity building mechanism associated with different schemes of government leading to poor targeting of benefits.

By: Vishal