Madhya Pradesh air ambulances, launched in 2024, served 159 people, 32 had BJP links
Only 13 have paid for the service -- those without an Ayushman card and being flown to a hospital outside the state have to pay for it according to the scheme.
Madhya Pradesh's new Prime Minister Shri Air Ambulance Service, launched in May 2024, has provided transportation for 159 patients. Thirty-two of those patients have connections to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or are related to them. Only 13 of the 159 beneficiaries have paid for the service, which requires payment for non-Ayushman cardholders traveling outside the state.
The service is provided by Flyola, a private company with 22 aircraft, two of which are reserved for air ambulance operations. The service is overseen by the health department, with health minister Rajendra Shukla stating that some individuals do not pay due to the government sometimes covering costs on humanitarian grounds. The service is primarily used for individuals affected by accidents, industrial mishaps, or natural disasters.
Of the 159 patients, 44% (70) are from the Rewa division, where the health minister is from. Beneficiaries have reported that nobody asked them for payment when airlifted outside the state, citing that they were aided by the chief minister or family connections.
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