The revenue allocation of Rs 975 crore for the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) was reduced to Rs 565 crore and, as the year progressed, the actual release was just Rs 450 crore — less than half of the budget estimate, according to a parliamentary panel’s report. As for the reason for reducing the budgeted allocation, the panel quoted the department of health and family welfare, saying: “This ministry had moved a proposal for another scheme with enhanced cover of Rs 1 lakh per family. The RSBY provided a limited coverage of only Rs 30,000 and there was a proposal to increase it to Rs 1 lakh. It further noted that many states have opted out of RSBY in favour of state-run schemes. “What would indeed have been a step forward is if it covered out-patient treatment as well, but that is lacking,” said the Parliamentary panel.

Source: Hindustan Times March 13, 2018 08:51 UTC