Gandhinagar, Aug 4 (IANS) The Gujarat government on Tuesday launched a new health assistance scheme for Scheduled Tribe (ST) patients, setting aside Rs 2 crore in the 2026-27 financial year to help cover the cost of organ transplants and advanced robotic surgeries that remain unpaid after benefits available under Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) or the state’s Mukhyamantri Amrutam (MA) scheme have been exhausted.
The scheme is intended to support tribal families facing high treatment costs for life-threatening illnesses by meeting the remaining eligible expenditure, subject to prescribed conditions.
“The initiative has been introduced by the Tribal Development Department under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, with administrative approval granted by Tribal Development Minister Naresh Patel and Minister of State, P.C. Baranda,” officials said.
Officially titled the ‘Scheme to Provide Assistance for Organ Transplants of Kidney, Liver, Heart, Pancreas, etc., and for Operations Including Robotic Surgeries for Patients Belonging to the Scheduled Tribe Community of the State,’ the programme provides financial assistance for complex organ transplant procedures as well as advanced robotic surgeries.
The state has earmarked Rs 2 crore for the scheme in its first year.
The government has appointed the Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre (IKDRC), located within the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital campus, as the nodal agency responsible for implementing the scheme.
Under the scheme, financial assistance will be calculated after deducting the amount already covered under PMJAY or the MA Card.
For example, if an organ transplant at IKDRC costs Rs 6 lakh and PMJAY covers Rs 3 lakh, the remaining Rs 3 lakh will be provided under the new scheme.
In cases where treatment is carried out at a private hospital, assistance will be limited to the government-approved treatment cost.
If a private hospital charges Rs 10 lakh for a transplant but the approved rate for the same procedure at IKDRC is Rs 6 lakh, and PMJAY has already paid Rs 3 lakh, the beneficiary will receive up to Rs 3 lakh under the scheme.
To qualify, beneficiaries must belong to the Scheduled Tribe community in Gujarat and produce a valid caste certificate. They must also possess a PMJAY or MA Card.
Patients are required to approach IKDRC before undergoing treatment, and prior approval from the institute is mandatory even if the surgery is to be performed at a private hospital. Clinical clearance from the IKDRC Transplant Committee is also compulsory.
The government clarified that while organ donors may belong to any community, financial assistance under the scheme will be available only to the tribal recipient.
Children covered under the School Health Programme have been excluded, as they are already entitled to free treatment under that programme.
According to the government resolution, the entire application and approval process will be conducted online to improve transparency.
Financial assistance will be disbursed through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system or the CM Dashboard Portal in accordance with government guidelines.
The scheme will also be subject to periodic social audits and third-party verification, with reports submitted to the state government to monitor implementation.
–IANS
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