Opinion | Medical Schemes for Kashmiri People and Awareness

The backbone of any great nation is its people, and the biggest source of wealth anyone can have is to be healthy. In a developing nation such as India, we need to make sure we have that covered so that we are able to fulfill the promise of Viksit Bharat 2047 and compete with other global giants as we move towards becoming a developed nation.

India, as is known, has always been a densely populated country, and as a matter of fact, we have used that to our benefit by putting it to use as human resources. But like every good thing needs care, so do human beings and the citizens of this nation. The government has made sure of that—from curbing polio, to rapid and effective COVID-19 vaccination drives that led the global scene, to schemes like Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. The government has always tried to act in the best interest of the people.

In this article, we explore the different schemes our government provides to citizens and how they influence the healthcare of the common man.

First, Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY was launched in 2018, and ever since, according to official statistics, it has benefited over 55 crore beneficiaries (approximately 12 crore families). More than 6 crore hospital admissions have been authorized under the scheme, with treatments worth ₹70,000+ crore covered. For citizens in Kashmir, the specialized SEHAT Scheme (Social Endeavour for Health and Telemedicine) extends these benefits universally. People can avail of it with the help of a Golden Card, which provides health insurance coverage up to ₹5 lakh per family per year.

The scheme covers over 1,500 medical procedures, including orthopaedic surgeries, cardiac care, oncology treatments, dialysis, and eye surgeries. In my day-to-day life, I have seen patients with illnesses and complications that would have gone untreated due to lack of resources—but now, they receive the treatment they need. There are numerous empanelled hospitals—both public and private—where patients can avail of these facilities. This has fostered a sense of balance and equality among different classes of society. There is no longer the same rigid social hierarchy in access to healthcare; a common man now feels secured and supported by the government, and healthcare is increasingly becoming accessible to everyone. Regardless of who a person is, they are treated with dignity.

Number two: (CTMFFP) the Cancer Treatment and Management Fund for Poor Patients is a centrally funded scheme under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It provides financial assistance up to ₹15 lakh per patient for cancer treatment at Regional Cancer Centres and other government hospitals. Thousands of economically weaker patients benefit from it annually, especially those who cannot afford long-term oncology care.

Cancer has become very common in our daily lives. It has grown and crafted its own kind of narrative—it is a devastating health epidemic. The factors contributing to this are many, and some are still unknown—from environmental exposure and processed food consumption to bioaccumulation of toxins. It is estimated that 1 in 9 Indians is likely to develop cancer during their lifetime, and India records over 14 lakh new cancer cases every year. This ever-increasing disease, with its many types and classifications, chips away at people’s health. As expected, its treatment not only affects the patient but also produces lingering after-effects that extend beyond the initial diagnosis. It drains the emotional, physical, and financial strength of families and caregivers. To ease some of this burden, the government has put schemes like CTMFFP in place—acting as a crucial support system for the poor.

Another important scheme is Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana. Launched in 2008, RSBY was specifically designed for Below Poverty Line (BPL) families and unorganized sector workers. It provided cashless health insurance coverage of ₹30,000 per family per year, covering hospitalization expenses.

RSBY used a smart card-based system, allowing portability across India—meaning a beneficiary could receive treatment in any empanelled hospital nationwide. At its peak, the scheme covered over 3.6 crore families, making it one of the largest health insurance programs for the poor before being subsumed into Ayushman Bharat. The sentiment behind RSBY was transformative—it introduced the idea that even the poorest citizen deserves dignity in healthcare. For many families, it was the first time they could walk into a hospital without fear of financial ruin. It reduced out-of-pocket expenditure and prevented families from falling deeper into poverty due to medical bills.

Despite these schemes, a major challenge remains—awareness. Many eligible beneficiaries, especially in regions like Kashmir, are either unaware of these schemes or do not know how to access them. Lack of digital literacy, misinformation, and bureaucratic gaps often prevent people from fully utilizing these benefits. There is a pressing need for grassroots-level awareness campaigns, involvement of local healthcare workers, and community engagement to bridge this gap. When people are informed, schemes transform from policies on paper into life-saving realities.

Musaib Bilal is an author, columnist, speaker and a mental health advocate pursuing Bachelors from Amar Singh College. Email: musaibbilal.216061@gmail.com