This book critically examines the evolution and design of medical insurance schemes for the poor in India.  It covers a range of medical insurance schemes that have been implemented by worker unions, state and Central government. It examines the experience of those who access these schemes and the limitations faced.

There are big questions in the study of health care financing. Who pays? What does, or must, government pay for? What is the role of private funding? Is insurance based financing better than budgetary financing? Is insurance cover appropriate for primary care? Does insurance work better in tertiary care? etc.  Policy makers need a proper understanding of these issues. In analysing the working of public insurance schemes, this very timely volume adds to our knowledge of health care financing and the need for continuous government engagement.
— Keshav Desiraju 
    Former Secretary, Union Ministry of Health

    and Family Welfare, Government of India.

Rama Baru is one of the world’s leading experts on the commercialisation of health care and her work on this in India has shone light into some very dark corners. Her insight into the issues affecting the access of poor people to health care has been consistently sharp.
— Barbara McPake 
    Director, Nossal Institute for Global Health at the 
    University of Melbourne School of Population 
    and Global Health, Victoria, Australia.

Rama V. Baru is on the faculty at the Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. Her research focus is on health policy, international health, privatisation of health services and inequalities in health. She is the author of Private Health Care in India: Social Characteristics and Trends and more recently has edited a volume on School Health Services in India: The Social and Economic Contexts. In addition, she has published extensively in journals and several edited volumes. She was awarded the Balzan Fellowship by the University College, London and the Indo-Shastri Canadian Fellowship. Dr Baru is the regional editor (South Asia) for Global Social Policy published by Sage. She has served as a member of research committees for the Government of India, World Health Organization, Indian Council for Medical Research and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.