The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to both the Centre and the Karnataka government following reports that a 72-year-old man allegedly committed suicide in December after a Bengaluru hospital denied him benefits from a welfare scheme.
The NHRC stated that, if the reports are true, they point to a serious violation of human rights. The commission has asked for detailed reports from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Karnataka government’s chief secretary within four weeks.
The reports should cover the status of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) senior citizen scheme in Karnataka and other regions.
The NHRC took suo motu cognizance of the media report about the suicide, which allegedly occurred on December 25, 2024.
The man, who had enrolled in the AB PM-JAY scheme, was reportedly denied a Rs 5 lakh cover at the Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology in Bengaluru because the hospital claimed it had not yet received the necessary state government orders.
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The rights panel also noted that the report highlighted other cases where senior citizens faced difficulties accessing benefits under the AB PM-JAY scheme.
The AB PM-JAY senior citizen scheme was designed to provide essential medical care to senior citizens, especially those who cannot afford hospital bills or specialised treatments.
The NHRC emphasised that if senior citizens are denied the benefits of this welfare scheme, it could violate their right to health and a life with dignity.
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