Aizawl, Feb 22: The Mizoram government is set to launch a new healthcare scheme providing insurance coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per beneficiary, Chief Minister Lalduhoma announced on Friday. The scheme is expected to be implemented in the upcoming financial year.

Speaking during the motion of thanks on the Governor’s address in the ongoing budget session, Lalduhoma said that the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) government initially sought to implement a healthcare initiative introduced by the previous Mizo National Front (MNF) administration under former Chief Minister Zoramthanga. The earlier plan aimed to secure a ₹1,000 crore loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to roll out the scheme. However, despite efforts, the loan could not be obtained, leading the government to develop an alternative approach using state funds.

The Chief Minister stated that discussions had been held with pensioners, government employees, and private hospitals to facilitate the scheme’s implementation. “We are confident that we can launch the healthcare scheme with ₹5 lakh annual health coverage from our own resources, without relying on an ADB loan. We hope to implement it in the new financial year,” he said.

Under the proposed scheme, beneficiaries will receive cashless treatment up to ₹5 lakh per year. The government is in the process of finalizing agreements with private hospitals for the scheme’s implementation.

Lalduhoma outlined the registration process, stating that it will initially be open for three months, followed by a one-month closure. After that, registration will reopen for another month with late fees. He explained that continuous registration would not be allowed to prevent last-minute enrollments by individuals seeking coverage only after hospitalization, which could result in financial losses for the government.

Currently, the state operates the Mizoram State Health Care Scheme (MSHCS), introduced by the MNF government in 2019, which offers health coverage of up to ₹2 lakh annually. Officials confirmed that the MSHCS will conclude in March.

Meanwhile, the Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), a central government scheme providing insurance coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per year, continues to be implemented in Mizoram.