Maharashtra government’s cashless health insurance scheme for poor, Rajeev Gandhi Jeevandayee Arogya Yojana’s (RGJAY) implementation has hit a road block due to poor distribution of health cards.
As per the previous target, 20 lakh health cards were to be distributed in the state by March 2012, but till now only 17 lakh cards have been distributed. In Mumbai only five lakh cards have been distributed as against the target of 16 lakh cards.
Main reason in failing to achieve the target is the shortage of staff on ration shops that were the in charge of distribution. Ration shops are highly understaffed to perform even regular duties. And health card distribution was an additional burden for them causing problem. Also people in Mumbai are too busy to devote a part of their day to get the cards.
Due to all these circumstances state government has extended the last day of distribution of cards to 10 July 2012. State government has also asked Anganwadi workers to carry on the distribution.
Scheme was introduced eight months back. It provides cashless hospitalization cover to people holding yellow ration cards (families below poverty line) or orange ration cards (annual income of the family below Rs 1 lakh).
Under the scheme its beneficiaries can avail cashless cover for 972 medical procedures including kidney transplant.
State government is keen to include private hospitals to implement the scheme but private hospitals are reluctant. As per private hospitals they already implement the Charity Commissioner’s scheme of reserving 20 % of beds for the poor. Hence, they can’t be registered under both schemes.
Meanwhile, health activists have submitted a memorandum to the government to address certain issues in the scheme. As per them scheme focuses on procedures rather than condition. Doctors will prefer to perform expensive surgeries which are covered in the scheme instead of conventional ones. And also basic maternity care and caesarian operations are not covered under the scheme. The large population of migrants, homeless people and street children are not covered, though they are the most needy.