Mulund’s Underprivileged Patients Left In The Lurch! Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana scrapped at both civil hospitals in Mulund!
Several governments, over the years, have introduced health schemes for the welfare of the underprivileged and the aam admi, like the Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayee Arogya Yojana by the Congress government in 2012. In 2017, the BJP government re-named the same scheme as Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY) and, last but not the least, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s most ambitious Ayushman Bharat Yojana or Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) or Modicare in 2018 to make a new healthy India!!
However, what is tragic is that the government’s most ambitious Ayushman Bharat Yojana itself is in shambles and is now being replaced by Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana. But, the plight of Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana is nothing to praise about! In fact, in Mulund, this scheme has been scrapped at both the Municipal hospitals in Mulund West and East, leaving the poor and the underprivileged in the lurch!
When Home Times met a dejected Soni family at M.T. Agarwal Hospital, the family lamented, “We are the beneficiaries of Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana, but it is a tragedy that the hospital denies treating us as the health scheme has been removed from the hospital. We are thus forced to spend money from our pocket when the government promises us free treatment!” He added, “I am a senior citizen, but the doctors show no sympathy and direct us to Sion, KEM and Wadia Hospitals in Mumbai. It is very difficult to travel the distance, hence I am forced to get treatment from a private hospital at my own cost!”
When Home Times approached the Medical Officer at M.T. Agarwal Hospital to enquire the reason behind BMC discarding the poor people under this scheme, he said, “The hospital does not have any facility to conduct major surgeries, hence the state government has removed this sheme from this hospital.”
It may be noted after the M.T. Agarwal Hospital building became dilapidated the hospital had to be shifted to a new building adjacent to T-Ward office. The new building does not have enough facilities to offer patients. In addition, patients under the Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana are directed to Mumbai civil hospitals which is quite tiresome and difficult for them.
What is more painful is that, besides M.T. Agarwal Hospital in Mulund West, the Mulund East civil hospital, namely, Veer Savarkar Hospital also does not have any surgery facility. Hence, the holders of Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana card here, too, are disappointed! The Medical Officer here told Home Times, “Since the past 2 years, the hospital does not have any qualified surgeon to perform major surgeries!!! Hence, since the last 2 years only OPD, child care and minor orthopedic surgeries are done!!”
The Medical Officer added, “The Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana can be revived in this hospital if the government appoints some surgeons. We have been insisting upon the concerned officials to appoint surgeons, but there is no action from the government.”
“Since 2012 to 2018, a total of 130 people have benefitted from this scheme at our Veer Savarkar Hospital. But, ever since the scarcity of surgeons, our hospital has been unable to provide facility to the scheme’s card-holders,” he informed.
Thus, with both the major Municipal Hospitals i.e. M.T. Agarwal Hospital in Mulund West and Veer Savarkar Hospital in Mulund East, removing services under this Scheme the dejected, underprivileged patients of Mulund are in utter pain!!! Home Times urges the T-Ward administration to seek an urgent solution to this issue!!!
What is MJPJAY?
In order to provide quality medical care for the Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Above Poverty Line (APL) families, Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayee Arogya Yojana (RGJAY) was started in 2012 in 8 districts of Maharashtra (Phase 1) and later introduced in remaining 28 districts of Maharashtra (Phase 2).
Mulund’s M.T. Agarwal Hospital and Veer Savarkar Hospital provided service to RGJAY card- holders. The scheme was renamed as Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY) in 2017.
Below Poverty Line families having income less than one lakh rupees per annum and who hold either Antyodaya card or Annapurna card or yellow or orange ration card are eligible for free medical access under this scheme. The scheme does not cover an Above Poverty Line family which holds a white ration card.
The hospital provides quality medical care for specialty services requiring hospitalisation for surgeries and therapies or consultations. The scheme also provides cover for meeting all expenses relating to hospitalisation up to Rs. 1, 50,000/- per family per year in any civil hospital.
In 2016, the government increased the benefit from Rs. 2.50 lacs to Rs.3 lacs for kidney transplants. In addition, the annual Rs. 1, 50,000/- per family per year ceiling was increased to Rs. 2 lacs.
In Mulund, about 2.23 lacs poor people have taken advantage of this scheme.
