NITI Ayog plans new authority to manage insurance for all

The NITI Ayog has proposed the formation of a National Health Authority to administer the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana(PMJAY) and will be chaired by the Health Minister with the Ayog as its administrative body.

The proposal will need to be cleared by the Union Cabinet and if accepted will mean that the Union Health Ministry will have little say in the NDA government’s flagship health scheme.

Since PMJAY only caters to around 40 percent of the population , setting price for 50 crore people could artificially inflate health care costs for the remaining  80 crore .Hence, the necessity for a distinct authority.

The PMJAY is the most ambitious social sector scheme of the NDA government. Launched on September 23 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the scheme entitles 10.74 crore families to an annual health cover of Rs 5 lakh.

PMJAY is currently administered by National Health Agency which is a registered society under the Health Ministry.