‘20 states sign MoU for Modicare, success hinges on participation’

New Delhi, June 14: As 20 states signed MoUs on Thursday to launch Ayushman Bharat, popularly called Modicare, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda said the success of the world’s largest government-run health scheme hinges upon active participation of the states. “States need to own the scheme while Centre will design the policy framework with all possible flexibility and support. Exchanging of MoU is an important step in formalizing the partnership between Centre and states,” Nadda said at Health Ministers Conclave 2018 here.

Ayushman Bharat - National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM) aims to provide annual health coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family to around 10 crore poor and vulnerable familes, thereby protecting about 50 crore people or 40 per cent of the country’s population. “There is a large volume of experience with the states, which are our implementation agency for NHPM. This will contribute to perfecting NHPM framework and systems,” said Nadda and added more than 90 per cent of NHPM beneficiary data verification has already been done. Model tender documents and final operational guidelines for Modicare were also released at the Conclave. Another five states are likely to sign MoUs by month end, he said. (IANS)