Bhajan Lal govt revamps RGHS to curb fraud and control claims

FROM FINANCE TO HEALTH

- Rajendra Chhabra

The Bhajan Lal government's bold decision to transfer the command of the Rajasthan Government Health Scheme (RGHS) from the Finance Department to the Medical and Health department has been widely lauded.

Since its inception in July 2021, the scheme had been managed by the State Insurance and Provident Fund Department under the Finance Department. With the recent change, this responsibility has now been entrusted to the Health Assurance Agency, operating under the Medical and Health department.

The story behind this bold decision is quite compelling. When IAS officer Naveen Jain assumed charge as Secretary Finance (Expenditure) in September 2024, he doubted how and why the total claims and expenses under the RGHS had soared to Rs 4,400 crore (First India, 5 May 2025). When he brought this to the attention of Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) Akhil Arora, he took the matter seriously. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Arora deemed it essential to initiate a thorough and comprehensive investigation into the extraordinary surge in expenditure.