Sonia seeks corporate help in providing health insurance

NEW DELHI: Expressing concern over an abysmally low percentage of people of the country being covered by health insurance, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi asked the corporate sector on Tuesday, to pitch in to provide health security to a greater population.

"Less than two per cent of the families outside the governmental sector have some form of health cover. This is abysmally low," Gandhi said launching the `Healthy Villages
Project' of the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) here.

"This is another area where the corporate sector's participation would be of great help," she said.

Gandhi noted that some states like Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have introduced health insurance schemes for the poor and the UPA Government has announced special health cover for vulnerable sections like the handloom weavers and craftsmen.

"We also have a Bill in Parliament that provides for social security, including health insurance, for workers in the unorganised sector. As much as 93 per cent of the
workforce belongs to the unorganised sector," Gandhi said.

Underlining the importance of rural infrastructure as a prerequisite for having inclusive growth, she said there were "terrible lacunae" everywhere, especially in the northern
part of the country.

Gandhi, who launched the CII's project for improving health, sanitation and education conditions in 100 villages of the country, said the UPA Government's National Rural Health Mission envisaged an important role for public-private partnership.