Panaji: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal has urged Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to adopt Punjab’s ₹10 lakh health insurance scheme, alleging that the public healthcare system in the BJP-ruled state has “collapsed” and that existing insurance coverage is inadequate to meet the needs of patients.
Claims government healthcare system is under strain
Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Kejriwal claimed that nearly 90 per cent of Goa’s population depends on government healthcare facilities as private medical treatment remains unaffordable for many families, particularly when dealing with serious illnesses.
He alleged that the Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana (DDSSY) has failed to provide adequate benefits to residents.
Kejriwal further claimed that the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC), the state’s only super-speciality government hospital, is overcrowded, while other government hospitals face shortages of specialists, medical staff, medicines and infrastructure.
Criticises DDSSY coverage
The AAP leader said the DDSSY currently provides an annual insurance cover of ₹4 lakh for families of up to three members and ₹6 lakh for larger families.
According to him, the insurance amount is insufficient to cover treatment costs for major illnesses. He also claimed that the scheme covers only 447 diseases and medical procedures, limiting its usefulness for patients requiring specialised treatment.
Kejriwal alleged that many hospitals are reluctant to accept DDSSY cards because government reimbursements are delayed by several months and reimbursement rates have remained unchanged since 2016.
Compares Goa scheme with Punjab model
Kejriwal claimed that the number of families benefiting from DDSSY had declined from 2.95 lakh in 2022–23 to 1.81 lakh in 2025–26, which, according to him, reflects the shortcomings of the scheme.
He contrasted it with Punjab’s health insurance programme, stating that every resident family in the state is entitled to health insurance coverage of up to ₹10 lakh annually without any income criteria.
According to Kejriwal, the Punjab scheme covers approximately 2,350 diseases and medical procedures, significantly more than the coverage available under DDSSY. He also claimed that hospitals participating in the Punjab scheme receive reimbursements within 15 days.
Appeals to Goa government
Kejriwal appealed to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to adopt what he described as Punjab’s successful healthcare model by introducing a ₹10 lakh insurance scheme covering all major diseases and procedures.
He argued that such a move would enable economically weaker sections to access treatment at private hospitals while ensuring quality healthcare regardless of a patient’s financial status.
The former Delhi Chief Minister added that while strengthening government hospitals is essential, it would require time. Until then, he said, a comprehensive health insurance programme could provide immediate relief to residents requiring specialised medical care.