NHRC seeks report over Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries not able to avail high-cost treatment under RAN

New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission has sought a report from the Health Ministry over a complaint about poor patients suffering from life-threatening diseases not able to avail treatment under the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) if they are Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries.

According to NHRC, it has received a complaint stating patients holding BPL cards are not getting RAN benefits if they availed benefits of AB-PMJAY even if they are suffering from life-threatening diseases - whose expenditure is much more than Rs 5 lakh, the maximum permissible limit under Ayushman Bharat health scheme.

The Commission has asked the ministry to take appropriate action and sent an action-taken report to it within six weeks.

"The complainant has further stated that due to such discrepancies people belonging to the most marginalised section of society are forced to sell their houses, land and to take loan on higher interest rates to cover the cost of treatment.

"He has requested the Commission to ask the government to take immediate necessary action so that poor patients get the benefit of the RAN scheme and Ayushman Bharat health scheme in case of life-threatening diseases, when the expenditure exceeds Rs 5 lakh permitted under the PMJAY scheme," the commission said in its letter to the Health Ministry secretary.