PM-JAY proves empty promise to heart patient
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 28 2025: A heart patient today underwent a pacemaker replacement surgery without any aid from the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme.

Even though the patient is a PM-JAY card holder, the authorised pharmacy, citing the Government's failure to clear due bills amounting to crores, refused to give any medicine or equipment necessary for pacemaker replacement.

As such, Laimayum Shyam Sharma (59) from Mayang Imphal underwent pacemaker replacement surgery without any aid from the PM-JAY scheme.

He was admitted in RIMS Medicine Ward (Male) yesterday for pacemaker replacement at the advice of Dr Sachin Dev.

Being a PM-JAY card holder, RIMS authority generated a PM-JAY/CMHT prescription book in the name of Shyam Sharma under which he could take medicines and equipment of up to Rs 1,16,300 from Panthoibi Pharmacy, located at RIMS gate.

It is said that Panthoibi Pharmacy is a pharmacy empanelled for the PM-JAY scheme.

Shyam Sharma and his family went to Panthoibi Pharmacy yesterday to take equipment necessary for pacemaker replacement as he was authorised by RIMS authority to claim benefits of up to Rs 1,16,300 under PM-JAY.

But the pharmacists refused to give any equipment saying that the Government has not paid due bills for medicines and equipment taken earlier through health cards.

Shyam Sharma said that his pacemaker inserted earlier in a hospital outside the State was expiring but he could not go to the same hospital due to financial constraints.

Subsequently, he consulted Dr Sachin Dev and successfully underwent pacemaker replacement surgery at RIMS today.

"I thought I would receive some help from PM-JAY in the form of medicines and equipment but no aid in any form was received from the scheme", Shyam said.

On being asked whether the equipment necessary for pacemaker replacement could be purchased on cash payment without applying PM-JAY, Panthoibi Pharmacy replied in the affirmative, he said.

After Panthoibi refused to give any equipment, the patient went to RIMS authority and asked them if his prescription book could be changed so that he could take some medicines of Rs 5000/6000 from the empanelled pharmacy under PM-JAY.

But the RIMS officials dealing with PM-JAY/CMHT cards maintained that the process will take a long time.

Thus, the heart patient was denied any benefit from PM-JAY .

Notably, PM-JAY guarantees a health insurance of Rs five lakh in a year to every card holder when they undergo medical treatment in Government or empanelled hospitals.

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