The scheme, which boasts an impressive enrollment rate across the state, not only covers physical ailments but also offers insurance coverage for various mental disorders

Arogya Karnataka, a pioneering health insurance initiative launched in 2018, has set an exemplary precedent by extending coverage for mental disorders to the residents of Karnataka.

The innovative approach has drawn attention from the global healthcare community, prompting Lancet authors to endorse its principles and conceptual framework for broader adoption.

In a recent article titled “Mental Health Insurance Reform in India,” published by the journal, the authors Sheikh Shoib, Ilham Zaidi, Fahimeh Saeed, Debanjan Banerjee, Sarya Swed, and Miyuru Chandradasa, put forth the suggestion that other insurance providers should emulate the success of Arogya Karnataka.

The scheme, which boasts an impressive enrollment rate across the state, not only covers physical ailments but also offers insurance coverage for various mental disorders—an inclusive approach that the authors assert should be replicated nationwide.

The authors argue that during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, several leading health insurance companies, including Manipal Cigna Health Insurance, the National Insurance Company, and the Oriental Insurance Company, took a commendable step by incorporating coverage for mental disorders in their policies.

However, the authors underline that the coverage was predominantly limited to hospitalization, neglecting non-pharmacological interventions.

The Max Bupa Health Insurance company emerged as an exception by offering treatment coverage for mental disorders within specified limits.

While the authors appreciate this progress, they say there is a need for more comprehensive coverage to bridge the treatment gap and ensure affordable mental healthcare across the country.

The authors explain the Mental Healthcare Act (MHCA) of 2017 has laid the foundation for transforming mental health services in India. The Act has triggered positive changes in both the public and private health sectors.

However, the authors rue that these changes have largely remained localized within individual institutions, lacking systemic integration.

The authors have also acknowledged that India’s flagship healthcare initiative, the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), has been a remarkable stride toward universal health coverage. Under this initiative, millions of families receive comprehensive healthcare coverage, which includes provisions for mental health services at various levels.

The authors commend this initiative but say the importance of a dedicated focus on mental health provisions to address the growing burden of mental illnesses in the country.

They propose a collaborative approach involving expert opinions, pilot research, and public-private partnerships to expand scope of coverage and treatment strategies.

The authors point out that despite the high prevalence, common mental disorders often go under-recognised and are associated with substantial disability-adjusted life years.

However, they concede that in low-income and middle-income countries, difficulties related to stigma, sociocultural beliefs, and political ideologies hinder mental health service development.

“In India, many individuals are reluctant to be admitted to hospital or to obtain documentation for psychiatric illnesses and, therefore, might not get insurance benefits. Often, such diagnoses are hidden by families or not written out by doctors, which can lead to delays in help seeking, compounding social discrimination,” the authors explain.

“Some obstacles that affect mental health services in India are stigma, lack of public awareness of psychiatric disorders, misinformation in media and society, scarce availability of medications, and treatment discontinuation by service users,” they add.

Also Read : 700 000 people die by suicide every year: Lancet