india

Updated: Apr 27, 2019 10:29 IST

The father of eightmonth-old Karishma, the first beneficiary of the much-hyped Ayushman Bharat scheme, is alleging that they are running from pillar to post for her treatment under the scheme.

Born on Independence day last year, Karishma was the first beneficiary of the Modi government’s flagship healthcare programme, under which the government promised insurance cover and medical facilities to poor and vulnerable families in secondary and tertiary care hospitals of the country.

Karishma’s father alleges that she has been ill for the past 15 days and has lost 2 kgs. “Initially, we took her to private hospitals but as she showed no sign of recovery, we took her to Kalpana Chawla Government Hospital, Karnal. But the doctors there conducted a blood test and asked us to bring her two days later.”

“But on Thursday, her condition deteriorated following which we got her admitted to a government hospital at Indri,” he said.

Kalpana Chawla Government Hospital director Surender Kashyap refuted the allegations that she was not given treatment. “A team of doctors examined her but there was no need to admit her at the hospital. The doctors recommended tests and asked her to bring her to the hospital a day after with the reports. The team also gave her medicines,” said Kashyap. Karnal chief medical officer Ramesh Kumar said, “The first beneficiary of the Ayushman scheme was brought here for treatment and she was suffering with fever and now she is being given treatment at the government hospital in Indri.”

Deepak Kumar, senior medical officer of community health centre, Indri, said they started her treatment soon after she visited the hospital. He said that she was suffering with fever and chest infection but is now recovering.