Karnataka's AbArK serving elderly better, no reason to adopt AB-PMJAY

Bengaluru: Since 2018-19, the state has paid over Rs 709.75 crore as claims for over 7.5 lakh treatments under the Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka (AbArK) scheme sought by people aged 70 years and above.

According to health department data shared with DH, in 2023-24, Rs 169 crore was released under the scheme for both APL and BPL card-holders aged 70 years and above for various treatments in empanelled institutions.

So, the department finds no extraordinary reason yet to implement separately the Centre’s PM senior citizen health scheme, which, among other things, demands a separate card (Ayushman Vaya Vandana card) to be issued to beneficiaries.

This comes in the middle of the controversy regarding the alleged death by suicide of a 72-year-old man in Bengaluru, whose death was linked to reportedly being denied treatment at Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology (KMIO) under Ayushman Bharat PM Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) senior citizens’ scheme, which provides Rs 5 lakh as cover.

The National Human Rights Commission took suo motu cognizance of the case and issued notices to union health ministry and the state government seeking detailed reports on the case in four weeks.

No response to letter

Responding to this case, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao told DH that the department wrote a letter to the Centre dated Nov 27, 2024, seeking clarification on the scheme, but it had not responded. 

The letter said the state bore the expenses for Rs 1.12 crore families already, much more than the Centre paying Rs 1,052 per family per annum to 69 lakh families in Karnataka, noting that the state’s ABArK scheme already covered those families and more.

The AbArK scheme does not require registration, unlike the Centre’s scheme.

Also, senior citizens who do not come under 1.12 crore families covered now will still be able to avail complete coverage “irrespective of whether they have PHH (ration) card or not”.

Why separate card?, asks minister 

“One question is – why do senior citizens need a separate card? They already have an Aadhaar or ration card, which should be enough. There are also funding issues, with the Centre-state breakup not being clear. They have not yet responded to us,” Rao said.