Lady Cancer Patient Awaits MLA CDF Assistance in Anantnag; No Letter Yet Reaches DC Office
Anantnag, Oct 29, KNT: A lady cancer patient from the Anantnag Assembly constituency has reportedly been waiting for about a month for financial assistance for her treatment through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) of Congress MLA Peerzada Muhammad Sayed, with no communication regarding the assistance having reached the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Anantnag so far.
The patient, a resident of Anantnag, has been seeking assistance through the MLA’s personal assistant (PA), who generally handles the legislator’s affairs. However, despite repeated requests over the past month, the case has reportedly not reached the district administration for further processing.
Medical documents shared with KNT indicate that the woman has been diagnosed with breast cancer and has undergone treatment, including chemotherapy. The records include documents from Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) and Manipal Hospital, Dwarka, New Delhi, relating to her diagnosis and treatment.
The delay has raised concerns about the time taken to process requests for financial assistance from patients facing serious illnesses, particularly those who depend on public support to meet treatment expenses.
The Jammu and Kashmir Government has amended the MLA CDF guidelines to permit financial assistance for eligible patients suffering from serious diseases, including cancer. Under the reported provisions, an MLA can allocate up to ₹20 lakh annually for medical assistance, while the maximum assistance specified for an individual cancer patient is ₹2.75 lakh, subject to eligibility criteria and prescribed conditions.
The guidelines provide for assistance to eligible patients from economically weaker sections after applicable benefits under existing health schemes and medical assistance funds have been exhausted. Payments are to be made directly to empanelled hospitals or medical institutions, in accordance with the prescribed procedure.
In the present case, the absence of a letter at the Deputy Commissioner’s office, as reported to KNT, raises questions about whether the patient’s request has been formally forwarded for consideration.
The patient has reportedly been pursuing the MLA’s office for assistance for nearly a month. For someone undergoing cancer treatment, delays in processing financial support can add to the uncertainty surrounding access to care and the management of treatment expenses. [KNT]
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