The devices include catheters, heart valves, orthopaedic implants, disposable hypodermic syringes and needles, surgical dressings and internal prosthetic replacements.

While government has plans to pay around Rs 1000 of premium per policy, general insurers have insisted that Rs 2,500 on the basis of acturial pricing will make the National Health Protection Scheme sustainable in the long run.

it was estimated that the premium for providing healthcare to an eligible family would be around Rs. 1000-1200.Under the funding arrangement, the centre will provide 60 per cent fund, while the remaining money would have to come from concerned states.

At present, the ESIC covers around 3 crore formal sector employees in the country, with a total beneficiaries of over 12 crore under its health insurance scheme.According to the statement, the “ESIC Vision 2022” was approved in-principal during the meeting. The vision envisages expansion of ESI Scheme in each district of the country with a target of covering 10-crore workers by 2022

“Definitely, the private sector will need to play a key role in ensuring the delivery of quality care, she added. The private sector is committed to engaging with the Government, in the true spirit of Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) and develop innovative models of collaboration to ensure that the beneficiaries get the care they deserve,” Sunita Reddy

Many experts have questioned the ability of the government to fund such as ambitious scheme and also the availability of infrastructure to provide medical facilities for a large number of people across the country.

“It is not only an insurance. There are many models which we are going to work out. That is why I am not saying now. We will come out with a full programme. We are going fast on it,” he said, adding that the government is committed on it.