Karnataka government denies Universal Healthcare access to senior citizens: Captain Brijesh Chowta

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New Delhi : Dakshina Kannada MP, Captain Brijesh Chowta, raised the issue of denial of healthcare benefits under Ayushman Bharat Yojana to senior citizens in the age group of 70+ in Karnataka.

Raising the issue under Rule 377, Captain Chowta highlighted that the Karnataka Government has refused to contribute its mandatory 40% share under the scheme. This decision has left lakhs of elderly citizens without access to healthcare facilities, many of whom depend on the scheme for life-saving treatment.

Mangalore has a senior citizen population of around 80,000 belonging to the 70+ category who are currently missing out on the Rs. 5 Lakh per year insurance cover for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation under the scheme.

He emphasised that this move runs contrary to the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who launched Ayushman Bharat to ensure universal health coverage and financial protection for the most vulnerable sections of society. He urged the Union Government to take immediate steps to safeguard the healthcare rights of Karnataka’s senior citizens and to direct the State Government to fulfil its obligations under this flagship initiative.