Government expands national health scheme to cover 50 million more people

The government said it will extend its flagship public health-insurance scheme to an additional 50 million people, widening free hospital cover to more lower-middle-income families and, for the first time, adding limited outpatient care.

The expansion rolls out in phases from next quarter. Health economists welcomed the wider coverage while cautioning that hospital capacity and timely reimbursement to empanelled hospitals will determine whether the benefits reach patients in practice.