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NHPS a gimmick, says Chidambaram
Context:
Former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has dubbed the National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) as a gimmick alleging that it was introduced without any proper planning
Details:
- Criticising the Centre for the scheme, P. Chidambaram wondered how it will provide funds for it.
- He also mocked at the Centre’s move to ask the States to bear 40% of the expenditure on NHPS
- He has asked why the State governments should bear it when they have healthcare programmes of their own.
- Further, he has argued that the NDA government has been unable to reduce the fiscal deficit “significantly” since coming to power in 2014.
About NHPS:
The NHPS aims to provide health insurance coverage to 10 crore families with an insurance ceiling of up to Rs. 5 lakh per family.
