West Bengal, first state to opt out of 'Modicare'

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his budget for 2018-19 announced the National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS)

West Bengal became the first state to withdraw from the ambitious programme National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) announced in the Union Budget 2018 as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced the decision to opt out of the scheme.

Mamata Banerjee claimed that the Bengal government had already enrolled 50 lakh people under its own 'Swasthya Sathi' programme. This scheme was officially launched by CM Mamata Banerjeeon 30th December 2016.

"There is nothing new in this scheme," Banerjee said, according to The Week. "We cannot accept the central government's diktat. You have decided that 40% of the funding would have to be borne by states. Did you discuss with us before deciding on it? You cannot force us to pay. If we had money, we would have done that on our own."

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his budget for 2018-19 announced the National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) announced to provide health insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh to over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families.

On funding of the scheme envisaging to cover about 50 crore people, the Niti Aayog vice-chairman said the allocation for the health sector has been raised by Rs 6,000 crore.

OneIndia News