Fri Jan 10 05:55:33 UTC 2025: ## NHRC Investigates Suicide of Senior Citizen Denied Healthcare Coverage

**New Delhi, January 10, 2025** – The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has launched an investigation into the death of a 72-year-old man who committed suicide after being denied ₹5 lakh in healthcare coverage under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) scheme. The incident occurred in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on December 25, 2024, after the Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology refused treatment, citing a delay in receiving state government orders regarding the scheme.

The NHRC issued notices to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Karnataka government, demanding a detailed report within four weeks. The Commission expressed serious concerns about potential human rights violations, stating that the denial of benefits under the AB PM-JAY senior citizens scheme, designed to ensure affordable healthcare for the elderly, infringes upon their right to health and a life with dignity. The requested report will detail the scheme’s current implementation status in Karnataka and other states.

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