For implementation of the Ayushman Bharat (AB) – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) scheme of the Government of India for cancer services across India in its second year (Arogya Manthan 2.0)
KRC TIMES Assam Bureau
Dr. B Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI), Guwahati has placed itself in 3rd place for implementation of the Ayushman Bharat (AB) – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) scheme of the Government of India for cancer services across India in its second year (Arogya Manthan 2.0). In the state of Assam, BBCI tops the list for implementation of the scheme. Medical College and Hospital in Kerala and Cancer Institute, Adyar in Tamilnadu secured 1st and 2nd positions, respectively for the implementation of AB-PMJAY. A total of 9811 cancer patients have received free treatment under the scheme at the institute in the last two years. In India, till now, around 1.3 crore hospital admissions and 22,395 hospitals are empanelled under AB-PMJAY scheme. The scheme has issued 12 crores 59 lakh e-cards to beneficiaries in the country.
According to Dr Amal Chandra Kataki, Director, before the scheme was introduced in 2018, many cancer patients either could not afford the treatment or leave for their homes halfway through the treatment due to lack of financial resources. This AB-PMJAY scheme has been a boon in disguise for many cancer patients from the underprivileged section of our society. We hope, in future, we are going to witness good outcomes and overall survival of cancer patients will improve, further informed Dr Kataki.
Asish Banerjee from Tripura, whose brother underwent treatment at the BBCI, said “we are happy to receive free treatment under AB-PMJAY scheme. If this scheme was not initiated by the Government, then it would not have been possible for us to afford the treatment of our brother”
Ful Khatun from Dhubri had said my husband has received three cycles of chemotherapy free of cost to us under the AB-PMJAY scheme. It would not have been possible for us to afford the treatment all by ourselves, remarked Khatun.
As per Balarish Lyngdoh from Meghalaya, “my mother’s initial diagnosis was done at Shillong. We received assistance from the AB-PMJAY scheme and my mother underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy at BBCI, which was indeed great support for a family like ours. The AB-PMJAY is a noble scheme by the Government of India. But, the only issue is, it takes a long time like a whole day for receiving the approval. I hope this can be rectified”
It may be mentioned here that, as a center under Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, BBCI has partnered with the CS Creative Solution to manage this scheme at the institute. In addition, Arogya Mitras provided by Ayushman Bharat, Assam office has helped in the implementation of the scheme.
Also, many patients at BBCI have been benefited by the Atal Amrit Abhiyan, a scheme of the Government of Assam.
