Jaitley proved healthcare scheme is jumla : Chidambaram

New Delhi Feb 2 (IANS) Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Friday said Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had proven that the government s massive healthcare scheme was a "jumla" because no money has been provided for the initiative touted as the biggest government-run health cover programme in the world.

"Yesterday I had said that the new health care scheme is a jumla (mere claim) with no money provided in the budget. Today (the Finance Minister) has admitted that no money has been provided and he will raise money in the future . Perfect jumla " Chidambaram tweeted.

Jaitley in his budget speech on Thursday announced a National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) providing health insurance worth Rs 5 lakh to 10 crore poor families -- 50 crore individuals -- per year.

Referring to the proposed scheme the Congress leader said it would entail huge expenditure but no money was provided.

"The promise of Rs 5 lakh per family for secondary and tertiary healthcare is a big jumla . The target group is 10 crore families. Assuming each family will avail of Rs 50 000 - one tenth of Rs 5 lakh - the amount required per year will be Rs 5 lakh crore " he said.

He said if the insurance companies foot the bill the estimated premium at Rs 5 000 to Rs 15 000 per family will require an outgo from Rs 50 000 crore to Rs 1.5 lakh crore per year. "Is the Finance Minister serious " the former Finance Minister asked.

--IANS
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