Madhya Pradesh Government to Provide Ayushman Bharat Scheme Benefits to Families of Organ Donors
On March 23, the Madhya Pradesh government decided to provide the Ayushman Bharat scheme benefits to the families of organ donors. Under this scheme, families will be provided with free treatment up to ₹5 lakh per year, with no income limit.
After the decision to give a "Guard of Honor" to organ donors during their last rites, the Madhya Pradesh government is set to offer another significant benefit to their families. They will be entitled to the Ayushman Bharat scheme, providing free treatment up to ₹5 lakh per family annually, with no income restrictions.
A documentary is being made with a budget of ₹18 lakh for promoting and spreading awareness about this initiative. The state government is taking this step to encourage families of brain-dead patients to donate organs.
Additionally, the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization is creating a portal where both organ donors and those in need can register. The portal will also provide information on the process and rules for organ donation.
According to the 2023 organ donation report by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization, Tamil Nadu leads the country in organ donations, with over 500 organ transplants taking place in 2023. Following Tamil Nadu are Telangana, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
In Madhya Pradesh, 243 organs have been donated since 2016. Out of these, around 65 brain-dead individuals have donated organs. Therefore, there is a need to increase awareness in the state. Some large private and government hospitals in the state offer transplant services for all organs, including the heart.
Ayushman Bharat is a central government scheme, where both the central and state governments contribute to premiums, but states can include specific groups as per their requirements. The state government pays for their premiums.
Organ Donation from Brain-Dead Patients
When a person's brain stops functioning but their heart continues to work, it is called brain death. After some time, the heart also stops working, and before that, the organs are removed. Organs like lungs, heart, kidneys, liver, pancreas, and cornea can be donated.