Universal Healthcare Distant Dream or Reality: An Initiative by Rajasthan State through Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana

ABSTRACT

"If health care is not affordable & accessible to all, is not of any use" Since the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, many people have been forced to give up their savings for the treatment of their families or for themselves. While the beds at the government hospitals were always occupied, many had to rush to the private hospitals at times of an emergency. It made a considerably large hole in the pockets of the middle-class Indians. Recently, in view of the current situation, a health insurance scheme was launched by the name of 'Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi SwasthyaBima Yojana' by the chief minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot. This state-operated scheme is supposed to offer cashless treatment to the residents of the state. Let's dive into details and learn about the different benefits this scheme is supposed to offer to the citizens of Rajasthan. A large number of people in the State are not able to afford the expenditure of their treatment. High expenditure on health care is the major cause of rural indebtedness. The Rajasthan State Government has taken an unprecedented decision to start the CHIRANJEEVI SWASTHYA BIMA YOJANA has been started in the state from 1st may 2021. Rajasthan has taken a step towards 'universal health coverage' by providing quality free medical services to the citizens of the state on hospitalization in government as well as private hospitals and reducing the expenditure incurred by the family for health services. To assess the awareness and understanding of Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana in Bikaner Administrative Division a primary research was conducted on 400 respondents in Bikaner Division througharea sampling. The primary data was collected through schedule and data was analysed through Microsoft Excel and descriptive statistical measures like percentage and mean were calculated. The data collected for this study showed that the awareness level of Chiranjeevi SwasthyaBima Yojana in Bikaner Administrative Division was low in urban areas.