THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Jamshedpur, March 1: Tuhin A. Sinha, BJP national spokesperson, has written a letter to Banna Gupta, Jharkhand Health Minister, urging immediate action for the implementation of the latest Healthcare Benefit Scheme (HBS) under Ayushman Bharat in the state.
In his letter dated February 29, Sinha highlighted his recent visit to the Meherbai Tata Memorial Hospital (MTMH) on February 15, 2024. During this visit, he discussed the challenges faced by the hospital with Dr. Sujata Mitra, the institution’s Director.
MTMH plays a vital role in providing advanced care to cancer patients in Jamshedpur and nearby areas. Sinha emphasized that the non-implementation of the latest Ayushman Bharat package in Jharkhand has hindered the hospital’s operations and its ability to deliver optimal care to patients.
Health Benefit Package 2022
The letter emphasized the advantages of the Health Benefit Package 2022 (HBP 2022) introduced by the central government in April 2022. Sinha pointed out that the new version offers increased financial and service benefits, making it more advantageous for cancer patients.
Also Read- PM samples Sindri fertiliser plant in Jharkhand as ‘Modi Guarantee’
The benefits include higher value for each cancer treatment package, increased support for surgeries, simultaneous approval for multiple chemotherapy drugs, financial aid for palliative care, and support for advanced radiation packages.
Sinha urges prompt implementation of Ayushman Scheme in Jharkhand to aid poor patients
Sinha stressed that the Ayushman scheme is providing financial relief to a huge number of poor patients. Patients at MTMH are not benefitting from the latest central government initiative because Jharkhand is lagging in the implementation of Ayushman 2022 version.
Almost 70% of the hospital’s patients are below the poverty line and need financial aid. An immediate implementation of the HBS 2022 in Jharkhand would bring relief not just to MTMH patients but also to thousands of Cancer patients spread across the state.
Sinha requested Banna Gupta for immediate action and a speedy implementation of the latest version of the Ayushman scheme in Jharkhand, ensuring enhanced benefits for impoverished cancer patients in the state.
This appeal comes as part of ongoing efforts to improve healthcare accessibility for the underserved population in the region.
