Rajasthan announces universal healthcare scheme; each family to get INR 5 lakh insurance

Health: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot assured every family in the state that they would get an insurance benefit of INR 5 lakh under the universal healthcare scheme (UHS) announced in the state budget.

While presenting the budget for FY 2021-22, the chief minister announced the Rajasthan Model of Public Health (RMPH), wherein a Right to Health Bill will be introduced with universal health coverage for five crore families, and an allocation of INR 3,500 crore in the upcoming financial year. The two initiatives are aimed at providing preventive, private, and curative care to all while reinforcing the state’s health infrastructure.

“Apart from people covered under Ayushman Bharat Mahatma Gandhi Rajasthan Swasthya Bima Yojana (ABMGRSBY), contract workers and small and marginal farmers can also avail this scheme for free,” Ashok Gehlot said. He added that all those not covered under UHS or ABMGRSBY could avail treatment of INR 5 lakh at any private and government hospital in the state by paying half the annual insurance premium of INR 850.

Other measures under RMPH include ensuring primary healthcare services within three kms or 30 minutes walking distance to each citizen, primary care within 12 kms, and so on. The bill also lays emphasis on the rights of patients, especially with respect to consent. Consent is expected to be made a prerequisite for any healthcare proposed for a person, and providers may have to keep patient records for up to two years and provide them to patients upon request.

Read this article on how universal healthcare can be achieved by leveraging technology, building care networks, and offering universal insurance.

Fundraising & Communications: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued a circular extending the validity of FCRA registration certificates to September 30th, 2021. This applies to all FCRA licences that have expired or will expire between September 29th, 2020 and May 31st, 2021. The decision to extend the deadline has been driven by the exigencies arising from the COVID-19 situation.

FCRA refers to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 2010, which permits charitable organisations based in India to raise funds from foreign sources.

The order also clarified that nonprofits that have already opened an account and have the requisite permission to receive foreign aid, can henceforth receive it only in these newly-opened accounts.

The FCRA law was amended in September 2020 to include a clause that mandated that all nonprofits receiving foreign aid must necessarily open an account in State Bank of India’s New Delhi Main Branch. The government had initially set the deadline for this account opening as March 31st, 2021; it later extended it to June 30th, 2021 after several nonprofits argued in court that there had been delays because necessary approvals from MHA had not been received.

Several organisations have not been able to receive foreign funds during the crisis caused by the second wave, and this has impacted their COVID-19 relief efforts. Relaxing the foreign funding rules could significantly help organisations ramp up their operations to help individuals, supply critical healthcare equipment, and respond to communities in rural areas.

Read this article to know how amending the FCRA can have unforeseen implications.

Philanthropy & CSR: The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has issued a circular that allows corporate spending on health infrastructure for COVID-19 care to qualify as corporate social responsibility (CSR) expenditure.

This includes setting up medical oxygen generation and storage plants, manufacturing and supply of oxygen concentrators, ventilators, cylinders, and other medical equipment to counter COVID-19.  

The announcement comes at a time when all efforts are being directed towards expediting efforts to support the country’s healthcare infrastructure.

According to the circular, companies can now undertake projects and activities in collaboration with other companies using CSR funds. Additionally, they can contribute to specified research and development projects, as well as publicly funded universities and certain organisations that conduct research in science, technology, engineering, and medicine.

The government had earlier clarified that setting up makeshift hospitals and temporary COVID-19 care facilities would also be considered a CSR activity. Rajesh Verma, the Corporate Affairs Secretary, has requested businesses to consider converting vacant office buildings into COVID-19 facilities to cater to the rapidly increasing caseload.

Read this article to understand why media attention on COVID-19 deaths due to lack of oxygen in big cities has skewed donor priorities.