People from economically weaker sections living in towns and cities, and school students from such families will soon get free medical checkups as the UPA government plans a mega revamp of the urban healthcare system.
With an eye on the elections, the government has planned an ambitious Rs. 22,000 crore project expand its national health mission over the next five years.
The focus of the mission would be to set up community health centres and provide more medical staff across 779 cities/ towns with over 50,000 population.
Although the scheme is primarily aimed to cater to the urban poor in the line of National Rural Health Mission that caters to the BPL population in panchayat areas, the government has decided to bring students under its ambit.
While the total estimate of the scheme is Rs. 22,000 crore during the 12th five year plan period, the centre will shell out Rs. 16,000 and the states will have to share the remaining amount.