Free organ transplant: 73 patients have benefitted since inception of scheme in 2019
The Hindu
Only below poverty line (BPL) patients are eligible under the free organ transplantation scheme — heart, liver, and kidney — in government and private-empaneled hospitals in Karnataka
A total of 73 below poverty line (BPL) patients have undergone free organ transplants and have got 622 cycles of free immunosuppressive medication under the Organ Transplantation Scheme after Karnataka launched in the scheme in 2019.
The Karnataka Government has so far spent ₹3.1 crore on the free transplants and ₹62.40 lakh on free supply of life-saving medicines that have to be taken life-long post-transplant.
As organ transplants are not covered under Arogya Karnataka-Ayushman Bharat Scheme, the government had in 2019 launched the free organ transplantation scheme — heart, liver, and kidney — for all BPL patients in government and private-empaneled hospitals. It had set aside ₹30 crore for this scheme in 2019’s budget.
The government had fixed package rates of ₹2 lakh for kidney transplant, ₹10 lakh for heart transplant, and ₹11 lakh for liver transplant. A sum of ₹1 lakh has been fixed as financial assistance for post-transplant immunosuppressive medication.
According to data from the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST), the nodal agency implementing the State’s health schemes, 23 patients underwent transplants and received 82 cycles of immunosuppressive medicine in 2019-20.
Despite the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020-21, when all activities had come to a standstill, nine patients underwent transplants. In 2021-22, 32 patients underwent free transplants. In 2022-23, till July 22, nine patients have undergone free transplants.
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