Cancer Patient Dies By Suicide After Being Denied Ayushman Bharat Scheme Benefits In Bengaluru: Report

The patient was a retired state government employee and died 15 days after his cancer diagnosis, a report said.

A family member said that just the initial scans cost them ₹20,000.

Source : ABPLIVE AI

Bengaluru News: A 72-year-old man suffering from cancer allegedly died by suicide after being denied medical benefits under the Ayushman Bharat PM-Jay senior citizen scheme.

The National Health Authority (NHA) has sought a report from the State Health Authority on the matter, news agency ANI reported citing official sources. 

The patient was a retired state government employee and died 15 days after his cancer diagnosis, as per a report in Times Of India. The man was shocked when he realised that the hospital declined to provide him with Rs 5 lakh cover under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana senior citizen scheme.

"Even though we had created an AB PM-JAY senior citizen card providing him with Rs 5 lakh annual cover, the Kidwai Memorial Institute Of Oncology (KMIO) denied the benefit, saying that the state govt orders had not arrived yet. However, it extended us a 50% discount,"
a family member was quoted as saying in the report. 

The family member added that just the initial scans cost them ₹20,000, and further chemo sessions were needed for the treatment. The scheme provides Rs 5 lakh free insurance coverage for people aged 70 years and above.