Mokokchung, 21 February (MTNews): Former Minister K Therie has demanded that the government immediately halt the billing of bedridden patients and deceased individuals under the Ayushman Bharat Health Card scheme. In a press statement, Therie explained the principles of the Ayushman Bharat Card, emphasizing its pledge to deliver cashless treatment and hospitalization in any empanelled hospital.
Therie stressed, “This explicitly means that any citizen possessing an Ayushman Card would receive free treatment after hospitalization. There is no bill attached to the scheme.”
However, Therie highlighted discrepancies in the implementation of the scheme in Nagaland, where patients and even deceased individuals are reportedly being billed for essential medical services, including medicines, diagnostic tests such as X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and blood tests. He insisted that immediate corrective measures must be taken to ensure that patients receive the cashless treatment they are entitled to.
Moreover, Therie shed light on the funding dynamics in the Northeast region, where the allocation stands at 90% from the Government of India and 10% from the respective state governments. He argued that this imbalance makes it exceedingly difficult for states like Nagaland to extend adequate benefits to its citizens.
The former minister also expressed concern over the financial burden placed on government employees and pensioners, who are subjected to deductions at the source for the Ayushman Bharat scheme. He advocated for a fair distribution of funding, proposing that the state government bear the financial responsibility for unemployed individuals and farmers.
Therie emphasized the core purpose of the Ayushman Bharat scheme, stating, “Every coin that comes from the Center comes in the name of the public. Every coin that is collected through tax is paid by the public.”
Therie reiterated the central objective of the Ayushman Bharat scheme, emphasizing its role in providing essential support to the sick and vulnerable. He urged the government not to expect bedridden patients or the families of the deceased to bear the burden of medical bills, emphasizing that the scheme is intended to offer relief to those in need.