‘Modicare’: Boon or Illusion?

PM Modi launched what is being touted as the world’s largest government healthcare scheme on September 23, a collaboration between the Centre and states to provide healthcare to over 500 million people. Critics describe it as a smokescreen that gives the impression of universal coverage without making meaningful space in the budget for such a far-reaching scheme. Still, no one would deny that Indian governments have thus far failed to make necessary investments in health. Maybe we should seek solace in the fact that the need for universal healthcare has been recognised even though much about the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana—and the measly allocation to build primary care centres under the Ayushman Bharat plan—remains uncertain

107 MILLION

Families in 445 districts across 26 states identified as recipients of the PMJAY scheme, based on the 2011 Socio-Economic Caste Census. Over 500 million individuals expected to benefit

`1,200 CRORE

to build 150,000 primary healthcare centres under Ayushman Bharat, or just Rs 80,000 per centre

`5 LAKH

Annual coverage to be provided to each beneficiary, including reimbursements for hospital and drug charges 2 days before and during hospitalisation, and 15 days after

` 2,000 CRORE

Allocated in 2018-19 budget for PMJAY; Rs 10,000 crore earmarked over the next 2 years

` 14,935

Average cost of hospitalisation in rural India and Rs 24,436 in urban areas in 2014, says National Sample Survey Office