Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct. 21: Hon’ble Member of Parliament Shri Bishnu Pada Ray has urged the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, Dr. Dinesh Sharma, to expedite the finalisation of a scheme for providing free or reimbursable helicopter/ship travel expenses to patients referred from inter-island health institutions to GB Pant Hospital, Sri Vijayapuram, for treatment as suggested by him earlier.
In a letter addressed to the Lt. Governor, the MP recalled that he had raised this important public welfare issue through his letter dated 19 May 2025, requesting the formulation of a suitable scheme for patients referred from PHCs, CHCs and district hospitals in the other islands due to the non-availability of adequate treatment facilities in their respective areas.
The MP pointed out that more than 11 months had elapsed since his original representation, but the scheme had yet to be finalised. The only response received on 2 July 2026 stated that the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) was being processed for approval by the competent authority.
Shri Ray expressed concern that the delay was causing considerable financial hardship to poor and needy islanders, who are compelled to travel by helicopter or ship to Sri Vijayapuram for essential medical treatment. He emphasised that patients and their families should not be burdened with heavy transportation expenses when they are already facing the stress and financial challenges associated with medical emergencies.
The MP has therefore requested the Lt. Governor to intervene and issue necessary directions to the concerned authorities for the early finalisation and implementation of the proposed free/reimbursable transportation scheme, on the lines of the transportation assistance available to eligible patients under the PM Ayushman Bharat Scheme.
Shri Bishnu Pada Ray reiterated that timely access to medical treatment is a basic necessity and that patients from remote and far-flung islands deserve appropriate support from the Administration. He expressed hope that the pending proposal pursuant to the suggestions made by him would receive urgent attention in the larger interest of the health and welfare of the islanders.