Government’s Anti-People Measures: Free Dialysis Scheme Abolished in IIOJK

As the Kashmiris continue to face repression, the Indian government’s recent decision to end free dialysis services adds to the hardship of the region’s most vulnerable.

In a move, the government of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) has ended the free dialysis service that was provided under the Golden Card scheme. This program, which was launched in 2019, had offered free dialysis to patients suffering from kidney-related ailments. However, with the recent changes to the scheme, dialysis costs have significantly increased, leaving many patients struggling to afford the treatment.

The decision to terminate the Golden Card scheme’s dialysis benefits has sparked protests from patients and their families. In Srinagar’s Sher-e-Kashmir Park, a large group of dialysis patients gathered to protest the government’s decision, which they believe will worsen their already dire situation. Many of the affected patients are from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, making access to healthcare even more difficult.

The Golden Card scheme, which had been an essential lifeline for many, provided much-needed relief to patients who otherwise couldn’t afford costly medical procedures. However, following the recent policy change, both government hospitals and private hospitals in the region have stopped accepting the Golden Card for dialysis treatment. This has left thousands of patients in a state of despair, unable to afford the rising cost of dialysis treatments.

For these patients, who often rely on government healthcare, the termination of the Golden Card service means that their condition may worsen, and for some, it could even prove fatal. Many patients have pleaded with the government to reverse its decision and reinstate the dialysis benefits under the Golden Card scheme, citing the immense hardship they now face.

The protests reflect the growing anger among the region’s residents, who feel increasingly abandoned by a government that they believe is indifferent to their suffering. The end of this free healthcare service highlights the broader issue of inadequate healthcare access for the impoverished in Jammu and Kashmir, making it even harder for the most vulnerable to survive.