Telangana chose not to implement the Centre's Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme launched Sunday for the time being citing a state scheme that covered nearly 80 lakh families, drawing flak from opposition BJP.
One of the reasons for not rolling out the scheme now was that Telangana would continue to implement its own Aarogyasri' Health Scheme, which covers nearly 80 lakh families in the state, official sources said.
"We already have Aarogyasri scheme.. As of now Telangana has not participated in the (central government's) scheme," they told PTI.
Asked when the Central scheme would be implemented in Telangana, the official said "as of now Aarogyasri scheme will continue," adding Telangana's model of health coverage is a robust programme.
However, Dattatreya, in a open letter to Telangana care taker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao Sunday described the state government's decision as a "unilateral, undemocratic and autocratic one."
Under Aarogyasri being implemented in the state, only 949 ailments are covered, but Ayushman Bharat covers 1,350, the BJP leader claimed and added "it could prove to be beneficial for financially poor as they can avail treatment for diseases like cancer."