New Delhi: It is an idea that the Union government may well take inspiration from for its Ayushman Bharat scheme. The small state of
Manipur is planning to improve its own state
health scheme to take healthcare to the doorstep of people by offering free online doctor consultation through videoconferencing, a step that is aimed at easing the congestion at hospitals.
The N Biren Singh government in Manipur had launched its own health scheme, '
Chief Ministergi Hakshelgee Tengbang' (CHMT) in January 2018, nine months before the Centre's Ayushman Bharat scheme, offering a Rs two lakh cover to anyone verified as 'poor'. It covers far more people than the Ayushman Bharat scheme that the state had also adopted as it offers a Rs 5 lakh
insurance cover.