Organ Donation: A special committee of doctors and medical experts has been formed to determine the specifics of the proposal and the overall process. This committee includes expert doctors from AIIMS and other institutions.

Madhya Pradesh Ayushman Bharat Yojana Organ Transplant

MP Ayushman Bharat Organ Transplant Coverage: The Madhya Pradesh government is preparing to bring heart, liver, and lung transplants under the Ayushman Bharat Niramaya scheme. The state government is working on a proposal to include these three major organ transplants in the scheme for the first time. It is also considering increasing the annual treatment limit for these complex surgeries from the current ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh. This proposal could provide significant relief to patients undergoing expensive transplant treatments, especially those families who cannot afford the high cost of treatment.

Package arrangements will be made for heart, liver, and lung transplants.

A special committee of doctors and medical experts has been formed to determine the details and overall structure of this proposal. It includes expert doctors from AIIMS and other institutions. This committee is assessing the total cost of heart, liver, and lung transplants. This includes the cost of surgery, pre- and post-operative testing, ICU costs, medications, and routine post-transplant care. After studying all these aspects, a proposal will be prepared regarding the package rate and treatment coverage limits.

Number of transplants low in Madhya Pradesh

This government initiative comes amid declining organ transplant numbers in Madhya Pradesh. In 2025, nearly 20,000 organ transplants were performed nationwide, but Madhya Pradesh's share was only 2 percent. Meanwhile, only 13 cases of deceased organ donation were recorded in the state between January and August 2025. Consequently, the government is working to strengthen transplant facilities and organ donation systems.

Organ transplant is so expensive

Organ transplants are quite expensive. The estimated cost of a kidney transplant in government hospitals is between 3 and 5.5 lakh rupees, while in private hospitals it can reach 15 to 20 lakh rupees. The cost of a liver transplant is estimated to be around 8 to 12 lakh rupees in government hospitals and 30 to 35 lakh rupees in private hospitals. Similarly, a heart transplant can cost around 10 lakh rupees in government hospitals, while in private hospitals it can cost 40 to 50 lakh rupees. The estimated cost of a lung transplant is 10 to 15 lakh rupees in government hospitals and 60 to 70 lakh rupees in private hospitals.

Expert committee assessing the entire expenditure

According to Arvind Shah, CEO of the Ayushman Bharat Scheme in Madhya Pradesh, an expert committee is assessing the full cost of heart, liver, and lung transplants, covering everything from the operation to post-transplant care. Once the committee's review is complete, a formal proposal will be prepared and submitted regarding the package rates and coverage limits.

Experts said – coverage of cancer treatment should also be comprehensive

Experts have also called for a broader coverage of cancer treatment. According to former NHM Director Dr. Pankaj Shukla, cancer treatment isn't limited to chemotherapy or radiation; it involves multiple phases and can last for several months. He argues that Ayushman Bharat should cover the entire treatment plan, rather than providing separate coverage for individual treatments or hospitalizations. This should include initial diagnosis, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, palliative care, and long-term follow-up.

Different approvals may increase patient expenses

Dr. Pankaj Shukla said that patients may incur additional treatment costs due to separate approvals for different stages and package limitations. According to government data, the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) covers 1,961 procedures across 27 medical specialties until July 2026. Under the National Health Authority's Health Benefit Package 2.2, radiation oncology includes 14 packages and 46 procedures, with prior approval and stage-wise approval.

Doctors will be trained to increase organ donation.

To strengthen the organ donation system in Madhya Pradesh, specialized training will be provided to doctors and healthcare workers in medical colleges. AIIMS Bhopal will provide training to doctors and healthcare workers from government medical colleges in the state. This training will cover identification and certification of brain death as per established procedures, early identification of potential organ donors, the process of counseling and obtaining consent from the donor's family, organ preservation techniques, and the green corridor system for transporting organs to transplant centers.