72-Year-Old Bengaluru Cancer Patient Dies by Suicide After Ayushman Bharat Denial
The Bengaluru hospital refused to grant him the ₹5 lakh coverage under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana to a 72-year-old cancer patient in Bengaluru and dies by suicide.
A 72-year-old Bengaluru man diagnosed with gastric cancer reportedly died by suicide on December 25 after being denied benefits under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) for his treatment. The retired state government employee passed away just 15 days after his cancer diagnosis, according to The Times of India.
The report revealed that the man was deeply distressed when he learnt that the hospital refused to provide him the ₹5 lakh coverage promised under the AB PM-JAY senior citizen scheme. Despite having enrolled in the program and possessing a valid senior citizen card, the Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology (KMIO) declined the benefit, citing pending state government orders, according to a family member. “Although the hospital denied the insurance, they offered us a 50% discount,” the family member said, as quoted by TOI.
Dr. Ravi Arjunan, director in charge of KMIO, explained that the senior citizen scheme was yet to be implemented and that the hospital was awaiting official instructions. The Karnataka government confirmed the delay, stating that clarifications on funding for the scheme were still being worked out.
The scheme provides ₹5 lakh in annual free insurance coverage for individuals aged 70 and above. A family member shared that the initial diagnostic scans alone cost ₹20,000, with chemotherapy sessions planned for further treatment. “We had arranged to start two rounds of chemo at Kidwai. While we were ready to pay, we lost him to suicide within two days. I’m not saying the denial of benefits directly caused his death, but he was already under stress and knew the benefit wasn’t available,” the family member said.
Another beneficiary, Lalithamba BV, head of campaigns for the Bengaluru Navanirmana Party and co-founder of Hasiru Mitra, recounted similar issues with the scheme. She described how her 87-year-old father was unable to access benefits despite having the card. “We received the card in early November 2024, but when my father was hospitalised on December 13, the card could not be processed. The Ayushman Bharat helpline told us that government instructions for its use were still pending,” TOI quoted her as saying.
The Karnataka health and family welfare department acknowledged ongoing issues with the AB PM-JAY senior citizen health assurance scheme, highlighting delays in implementation and processing.
Also Read: Diagnosing India’s Healthcare: Understanding the Gaps in India’s Healthcare System
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