Ayushman Bharat: Beneficiaries praise the scheme

R Shankar (45), a renal patient from Sankarapuram in Villupuram district, says that he was admitted to Royapettah Government Hospital to get treatment for his kidney ailment. “The money given under the insurance scheme is sufficient for my treatment. With the insurance scheme, there is no barrier in getting good treatment,” added Shankar.

When one-month old Sanjay was diagnosed with a tumour in his brain, his parents, Raja and Vimala of Panruti, brought him to Government Hospital for Children in Egmore, where the doctors conducted a surgery and removed the tumour. According to a doctor there, 5,000 in every 10,000 babies have water in the brain. Babies diagnosed with such tumours should stay at the hospitals for 30 days. “In private hospitals, the cost may be as high as Rs 2.40 lakh,” the doctors said. Sanjay’s mother Vimala, said that she had applied for Ayushman Bharat Yojana after the baby was diagnosed with the condition. “We got the approval immediately, which has now saved our son without having to spend anything,” she said.

“Insurance scheme is enough for my treatment,” said Seetha of Vadapalani, undergoing dialysis at Royapettah Government Hospital. Despite availing the treatment for free, there was no discrimination by the doctors or staff, she said.

It would have been difficult for Jothi to provide treatment for her 14-year-old son Karunakaran who has been suffering from a joint problem. But due to Ayushman Bharat scheme, he underwent surgery at Government Hospital for Children, Egmore. Doctors said this procedure would have cost Rs 1.50 lakh at private hospitals. Expressing her gratitude, Jothi said, “Ayushman Bharat is offering a new lease of life to poor people like us. I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the scheme.”

Madanraj (27) of Anna Nagar in Chennai had recently undergone endoscopy to clear a clog in his heart valve at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. “I was suffering from chest pain and visited the hospital for a check-up. During the check-up, I was diagnosed with a clog in the heart valve. The doctors did endoscopy treatment under Ayushman Bharat at no cost. The procedure would have cost Rs 1.30 lakh without the insurance,” he said.

Ganga Bai (65) from Arumbakkam was admitted to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital because of a heart disorder. “I fainted at a relative’s house and my family admitted me to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. Doctors at the hospital diagnosed me with ‘heart valve constriction’ and proposed a surgery. They said the surgery expense would come up to 

Rs 1.30 lakh. But luckily I was registered under the scheme and I had my surgery done without spending a rupee. Ayushman Bharat Yojana save my life,” she said.