Assam Patients Protest Cuts to Cashless Dialysis Coverage

Guwahati: Hundreds of patients and their families swarmed the Assam Medical College and Hospital road in Dibrugarh on Monday. They want the state to scrap a new order killing cashless dialysis benefits at private clinics. The cutoff starts July 1.

State officials recently pulled chronic and acute haemodialysis, along with other kidney treatments, from the Ayushman Bharat and Ayushman Asom schemes for private providers. Protesters argue that public hospitals cannot handle the extra load. The AMCH only runs 12 dialysis machines.

Families fear for their lives. One demonstrator shouted a stark warning at the scene: "Many poor chronic kidney disease patients will die because of this decision."

Parents are desperate for a reversal. One father whose daughter requires treatment three times a week begged Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to protect the vulnerable. He said, "My daughter cannot survive without dialysis. I request the Chief Minister to reconsider and not take away the only support keeping our children alive."