Bihar MP Sounds Alarm Over Suspension of Ayushman Bharat Treatment at Varanasi Hospital
Buxar Lok Sabha MP Sudhakar Singh has expressed grave concern regarding the abrupt suspension of medical treatment for patients from Bihar under the Ayushman Bharat scheme at the prestigious BHU Trauma Centre in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. In a formal letter addressed to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday, the parliamentarian urgently called for immediate governmental intervention to resolve this critical healthcare issue.
Financial Dues Halt Essential Medical Services
The core of the problem lies in substantial pending financial dues. According to MP Singh, the Bihar government owes approximately Rs8 crore to the BHU Trauma Centre. This significant backlog in payments has reportedly led pharmaceutical companies to cease supplying essential medicines to the facility. Consequently, the disruption in the medicine supply chain has directly impacted the continuation of treatment for numerous patients, many of whom are in critical condition.
Singh has characterized this situation as a clear case of administrative negligence, highlighting the severe consequences for patient care. He emphasized that the BHU Trauma Centre serves as a vital lifeline for accident victims and seriously ill individuals from Bihar, providing specialized trauma care that is often unavailable in their home state.
High Stakes for Bihar Patients
The MP provided alarming statistics to underscore the urgency of the matter. He revealed that nearly 40% of the patients receiving treatment at the BHU Trauma Centre hail from Bihar, with a substantial number originating from his own parliamentary constituency of Buxar. This high dependency makes the suspension of services particularly devastating for the state's healthcare infrastructure.
In his communication, Singh posed several pointed questions to the administration:
- Why have payments under the Ayushman Bharat scheme not been released in a timely manner?
- Have responsible officials deliberately ignored these mounting dues?
- When will accountability be established for this administrative failure?
Demands for Immediate Resolution
To address this crisis, MP Sudhakar Singh has put forth a series of concrete demands aimed at restoring medical services and preventing future occurrences:
- Immediate clearance of all pending payments owed to the BHU Trauma Centre.
- Strict disciplinary action against officials found responsible for the delay in payments.
- Implementation of a transparent and time-bound payment system to ensure timely disbursement of funds under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
- Urgent coordination with the Uttar Pradesh government to facilitate the prompt resumption of treatment for Bihar patients at the facility.
The suspension of treatment under the Ayushman Bharat scheme at such a crucial healthcare institution raises serious questions about the efficacy of inter-state medical agreements and the administrative oversight of healthcare funds. As patients from Bihar face uncertainty, the call for swift action grows louder, with MP Singh leading the charge to safeguard their right to accessible medical care.
