Madhya Pradesh air ambulances, launched in 2024, served 159 people, 32 had BJP links

Madhya Pradesh's Prime Minister Shri Air Ambulance Service, launched in May 2024, has served 159 patients, including 32 individuals connected to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), either as leaders, friends, or relatives. The state has incurred costs of ₹36 crore for the service up to July 7, according to the health department.

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We own 22 aircraft, and two of them -- a helicopter and a six-seater plane -- are reserved for air ambulance services.

Of the 159 beneficiaries, only 13 have paid for the service. These include a BJP leader and their relatives or friends who paid between ₹5-10 lakh each. The scheme, managed by the health department, is intended to provide air transport for individuals affected by accidents or disasters. Health minister Rajendra Shukla stated that the government sometimes covers costs on humanitarian grounds for those without the means to pay.

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We get approval from the health department, which checks whether the beneficiary is an Ayushman cardholder or not.

The service is operated by Flyola, a private company utilizing a helicopter and a six-seater plane. Company director Monika Tiwari explained that approvals are obtained from the health department, which verifies Ayushman cardholder status. Non-cardholders are airlifted based on references from the CM's office or in special accident cases. Tiwari emphasized the company's commitment to providing quick service to save lives, noting a recent shift to online approvals.

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We airlift non-Ayushman cardholders only upon reference from the CM’s office or as special cases involving accidents.

Documents reviewed by Hindustan Times, along with interviews with 119 beneficiaries, reveal that 44% of patients (70) were from the Rewa division, the home turf of health minister Rajendra Shukla. Shukla expressed pride in the service benefiting his region. The scheme allows free transport to government or affiliated hospitals for Ayushman cardholders, and to government hospitals within the state for non-cardholders, with exceptions for out-of-state transport in special cases.

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We are trying to save lives. Until May, we were getting approvals offline, but now we are getting them online. We are providing quick service to every patient.