The National Health Protection Scheme , "the world's largest insurance scheme" proposed in Budget 2018 , is therefore a step towards universal health coverage, industry executives said.The present scheme, Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), which provides insurance up to Rs 30,000, covers only basic treatment costs such as diagnostics tests. "It is indeed heartening that 40% of India's population will be covered under an insurance scheme. Effectively, this initiative, which amounts to $800 billion, tops even the US' Medicaid programme, which amounts to $550 billion," said Suneeta Reddy, managing director, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited. "It's a great move, as the Rs 5 lakh cover will take care of all possible tertiary care costs right from a dialysis to bypass surgery. However, as with everything, the execution of the scheme will be important," said Narayana Health managing director Dr Ashutosh Raghuvanshi.

Source: Economic Times February 01, 2018 10:18 UTC