The Centre will launch a country-wide urban health mission which will include provisions for free health insurance for nearly six crore slum dwellers.
NEW DELHI: Focussing on the need for firming up health facilities in urban areas, the Centre will launch a country-wide urban health mission which will include provisions for free health insurance for nearly six crore slum dwellers.
The National Urban Health Mission (NUHM), to be launched in a couple of months, would cater to a population of around 22 crore in 429 cities and towns of the country, Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said.
"Out of this nearly six crore of the slum population would be insured," he said.
The premium for the insurance scheme with a coverage of around Rs 40,000-50,000 would be paid by the government to the hospitals directly.
"The beneficiaries of this scheme can approach both government and private hospitals," the minister added.
According to Ramadoss, this will help in ensuring a huge inflow of funds into the government hospitals as the Centre will pay the amount directly to the hospitals.
The beneficiaries might have to pay a premium of Rs 600 annually later.
The insurance will cover maternal benefits, Out Patient Department (OPD) facilities and other general diseases.
The NHUM proposes one primary level health facility per 50,000 population with provision for establishment of new born care units and one referral level health facility per 2,50,000 population.
The primary health centres will consist of one doctor, two nurses and five Auxiliary Nurses and Midwives (ANM). It would include all basic facilties like laboratories and testing centres, Ramadoss said.
The new policy also envisages an active and socially committed slum level woman as a link volunteer for a slum population of 1500-2000 who will keep a tab on the regular health of the people.
Encouraging an enhanced role for urban local bodies in providing health services in urban areas, the new scheme would focus on effective integration amongst health and related departments like women and child development, water and sanitation, urban development and poverty alleviation.
"It also encourages optimal exploitation of Public Private Partnership (PPP) for expanding health services and strengthening linkages between the service providers and the community, especially the vulnerable sections thereof.
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