Coming to the rescue of several patients needing long term treatment in the chronic diseases such as cancer and kidney ailments,  a Parliamentary Standing Committee has asked the Government to consider providing medicines free of cost to all such beneficiaries of the Central health flagship, Ayushman Bharat — Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY).

The observation follows the committee’s interaction with the beneficiaries of Ayushman Bharat when it  noted that even if the patients were insured, they were bearing the high indirect cost that at times went beyond their ability to pay.

“To address the financial burden on poor patients and to achieve the objective of PMJAY, the Government needs to cover their indirect financial loss for a poor patient,” said the panel.

It has also recommended the Government to tap the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding from the private sector to cater to the treatments which may cost more than `5 lakh limit of the scheme, in certain cases.

The report observed that the cost of medicines, particularly in cases of diseases like cancer where long-term treatment is required, is a matter of concern.

“The Government should consider providing medicines free of cost to all the beneficiaries across the states through the PMJAY scheme,” said the committee, while commending on support to the patients on their indirect cost and expenditure beyond the `5 lakh cover offered by PMJAY.

The committee also noted that some of the complex and high-end surgeries or chronic treatment cost more than the sum of `5 lakhs covered under the PMJAY.

Also, some of the costly procedures and surgeries are not covered under the scheme.

The panel  also found that to address such issues, some of the hospitals have set an example by successfully attracting CSR funds and private investment to create funds to bear the expenditure of beneficiaries for the cost of treatment over and above the insured sum of `5 lakhs.

The Government also needs to implement such practices across the country to make PMJAY more and more effective and beneficial for the poor sections of the society,  it said. Also, there is a need to expand the treatment procedures covered under the PMJAY.

“The Committee has come to know that some costly procedures and serious diseases are not included in the PMJAY. Further, the OPD expenses are not covered by the scheme and are considered only in the case of inpatients. “The Committee recommends that the coverage of procedures and surgeries under PMJAY needs to be increased. Further, the Committee suggests that the rates under the health benefit packages (HBP) of PMJAY must be revised frequently and kept updated vis-à-vis the present market rates,” said the report tabled in Parliament in the recently concluded session.