Elderly cancer patient's suicide over denied treatment: NHRC issues notice to Karnataka govt

Bengaluru: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of the reported suicide by a senior citizen due to denial of treatment under AB PM-JAY scheme by a government-run hospital in Bengaluru and issued notices the Union Ministry of Health and the Karnataka Government. 

"The Commission issued notices to the Secretary, Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, and the Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka calling for detailed reports within four weeks. 

The report to include the present status of the implementation of the AB PM-JAY scheme in Karnataka and other States/ Union Territories," a statement from the Commission said on Thursday. 

The State Government-run Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology in Bengaluru, Karnataka declined to provide him Rs. 5 lakh cover under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) for which he had enrolled himself.

The hospital denied him the benefit of the scheme to the senior citizens stating that the State government orders in this regard had not arrived yet.

A few more cases regarding the problems being faced by the beneficiaries of the AB PM-JAY scheme for senior citizens have also been mentioned in the news report, the statement said. 

The Commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights. The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) senior citizen scheme has been framed with an aim to ensure good medical care for senior citizens, especially those who are not able to spend the hospital bills and cost of specialized treatment and medicines. If senior citizens are not getting the benefit of the scheme intended for their welfare, it may amount to violation of their right to health, which is inherent to a life with dignity, the statement added.