Ailment of ‘Vaya Vandana’ goes unattended; Health Department gropes in dark over implementation

Thiruvananthapuram: The Health Department is unable to answer whether the Central Government’s free healthcare scheme for senior citizens has been implemented in Kerala. The State Health Agency, responsible for managing the Karunya Health Insurance Scheme (KASP), has not received any directives from the government on this matter.

Meanwhile, following the Prime Minister’s announcement, a group of senior citizens is waiting after obtaining the 'Vaya Vandana' card. The scheme guarantees free healthcare for those over 70, regardless of their social or economic status. However, officials state that they have not received any instructions on how to implement the state's share in the scheme or its operational details.

In Kerala, 588 healthcare institutions, including 386 private hospitals, are part of the 'Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana' (PMJAY). None of these institutions have received instructions from the government regarding the 'Vaya Vandana' healthcare scheme. As a result, hospitals are only offering free treatment under the Karunya Health Insurance Scheme, without considering the senior citizens’ status in the benefits.

According to the scheme approved by the Central Government in September, treatment up to Rs. 5 lakh is to be provided to beneficiaries under this project. The government aims to expand the 'Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana' to include six crore senior citizens as beneficiaries.