The New Delhi Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel has recently stated that the government is keen on ramping up the health insurance infrastructure, to keep pace with the ‘double-digit’ growth of the sector. While addressing the 11th CII Health Insurance Summit in New Delhi, the health minister stressed on the need for accessible, affordable and quality healthcare for all.
As a large section of India’s citizens are still uninsured, the minister encouraged the insurance industry to develop simple and sustainable solutions, referring to them as ‘insurance products for the masses’. She said, ‘The government is committed to not just adopting sustainable practices at the Union Government level but to also percolate the same to state levels.’
Ms. Patel also talked about the newly released National Health Policy 2017, which articulates the government’s vision of quality healthcare for all. An important aspect of the same relates to the National Health Protection Scheme, which is work in progress.
While the health insurance sector has seen a booming growth, the health minister emphasised on the need to educate citizens about health insurance and its benefits. In pursuance of the same, she sought support from private players in the industry. She noted that adoption of standard treatment guidelines will result in better outcomes and efficiency in healthcare.
The occasion also saw Suresh Mathur, Executive Director of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), lauding the collaboration between the regulator and the industry to benefit the insured population. He mentioned that the health regulations stipulated by IRDAI, and recognising health insurance as a separate class of business, will further accelerate growth of the sector.
Naresh Trehan, Chairman of CII Healthcare Council, pointed out that a healthy dialogue has been initiated between different stakeholders in the industry. He said that future efforts must be directed towards controlling fraud, and gaining traction of health insurance in the higher levels of the government.
The conference revolved around the steady growth and promotion of health insurance sector, and the need for the industry to work in synergy with healthcare providers and citizen groups, in bringing about sustainable solutions for the masses.
Source: United News of India
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