World's largest health care protection scheme initiated

Under the Union Budget 2018, for the healthcare sector, National Health Protection Scheme is launched to cover 10 crore poor and vulnerable families. This will benefit 50 crore beneficiaries. Rs 5 lakh per family is allocated for secondary and tertiary care hospital. Rs 1,200 crore allotted for health and wellness centres. Government to initiate two major schemes as part of Ayushman Bharat program.

As per the ministry, this will be the world’s largest health care protection scheme.

24 new government medical colleges are to be set up. The aim is to have one medical college for every three parliamentary constituencies. Also, Rs 600 crore has been allocated for nutritional support to all Tuberculosis patients.

The BSE Healthcare Index has responded neutrally. Some of the healthcare companies have responded positively like Indraprastha Medical Corporation, Narayana Hrudayalaya, Apollo Hospitals, Thyrocare and are up by 5.1%, 4.4%, 3.4% and 2.7% respectively.