Insurers may be burning their fingers in urban health portfolios for some time now, but the government’s rural healthcare initiatives, including its decision to provide free generic drugs to public hospitals, are set to offer fresh avenues of growth for them.

The recent government decision to provide free generic drugs to government hospitals at an expense of $5.4 billion (Rs 29, 820 crore) could be a game-changer for the health insurance business in India. While insurers suffer a high claim ratio in urban centres, in excess of 100 per cent, the cost of health insurance in rural centres is expected to come down with the new regulation.

Chandigarh: The Law Commission has prepared a draft Bill called “Farmers and Agriculture Labour Welfare Cess”.

Missions set in a three-year plan for China's healthcare reform program in the 2009-11 period have been completed on schedule, according to a new official report.

“Tobacco industry interference”, this year’s theme for the World No-Tobacco Day (May 31), brought with it a strong reminder to India to evolve mechanisms that would ensure complete insulation of it

Not possible to honour smart cards under present circumstances: Hospitals

The Delhi Medical Association has expressed concern over what it called the “total failure” of the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) initiated through the Delhi Government to provide free health care to persons belonging to the below poverty line by providing them an insurance of Rs. 30,000 which they could utilise in any hospital in the eventuality of ailment. “The scheme was launched with lot of fanfare and many people were enrolled into the scheme and provided a smart card.

The annual pilgrimage to Shri Amarnath Shrine would commence on June 25 and culminate on August 2.

President Nasheed sent the bill to control thalassemia back to parliament for further amendments without ratification.