Dibrugarh: Hundreds of dialysis patients, their relatives, and local residents on Tuesday blocked the road leading to Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH), protesting a state government decision to discontinue cashless dialysis services at private empanelled hospitals from July 1.
The demonstration was triggered by a recent government notification withdrawing coverage for several dialysis-related procedures at private healthcare facilities under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) and the Ayushman Asom-Mukhya Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AA-MMJAY).
According to the order, chronic haemodialysis, acute haemodialysis, permanent tunnelled catheter placement, and peritoneal dialysis will no longer be covered under the schemes at private empanelled hospitals.
Protesters expressed concern that the move would place an enormous burden on government hospitals, which they claim lack the infrastructure and capacity to accommodate the resulting increase in patients. Demonstrators pointed out that AMCH, the region’s primary tertiary care centre, currently operates only 12 dialysis machines.
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“Many poor patients suffering from chronic kidney disease will die because of this decision,” said one of the protesters participating in the road blockade.
Another demonstrator, whose daughter requires dialysis three times a week, appealed directly to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to reconsider the decision.
“My daughter cannot survive without dialysis. I request the Chief Minister to reconsider and not take away the only support that is keeping our children alive,” he said.
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