© Adnan Abidi / ReutersIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets schoolchildren after addressing the nation during Independence Day celebrations.
Modi, who has previously said that the country can reach its potential only with a healthy population, announced on Wednesday that the health scheme will be operational as of September 25. It marks the anniversary of the birth of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, who founded the political party that eventually became Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party.
"The healthcare initiatives of the government will have a positive impact on [many] Indians," said Modi during Wednesday's Indian Independence Day address. He added that "it is essential to ensure that we free the poor of India from the clutches of poverty due to which they cannot afford healthcare."
Prathap Reddy, chairman of India's Apollo Hospitals, described the healthcare scheme as "a game changer."
Indian officials have labeled the initiative "the world's largest government-funded healthcare program." Modicare - officially called the National Health Protection Mission - will give impoverished Indian families health insurance coverage of up to $7,100 every year. Such healthcare coverage will significantly impact millions of Indians, where the annual income per capita is just over $1,900.
Modicare will come as a major boon for many Indians, who often turn to expensive private healthcare due to overburdened public hospitals.
According to the 2010 academic study 'The impoverishing effect of healthcare payments in India: new methodology and findings,' medical costs are one of the primary causes of poverty in India and force around 63 million Indians below the poverty line due to their private healthcare bills.
Reader Comments
Unless one is so filthy rich, the health of a community, or the social structure of a country are of no account, it is only through taking care of the most impoverished members of our society, that the society remains viable IMO.
Considering the population of India, this is a flash in the pan, but it is a start, Will it continue. I would hope so, India, has great wealth, do they want to share it with the billions of the masses, well that is another story, they certainly have the resources.
Strange, seeing all those young people wearing green, reminds me of the green revolution.....is that something that is touted by the likes of that Microsoft guy...now what is his name....Ah! Bill Gates, could be wrong, so many want a slice of the pie, when it comes to the push toward Asia.
Generally, poor tend to be easily swayed by the identities like religion, language, myriad caste allegiances. Probably, that is what is trying to appeal to them which is humongous base. If it doesn't go well, it may back fire.
Regarding the green colors: If one likes to look in terms of color revolution, it has to be saffron revolution, given the Modi's party is saffron and it already happened 4 years back and it has nothing to do with other revolutions. The picture ( Green dressed kids) was taken during India's independence day. See the white shirt and cap kids on the back. I guess kids participated in either in parade or School arranged in such a way it looks group of kids one place shows national flag ( green, white, orange) from the sky.