Patwari Questions Rs 35 Crore Spend On Air Ambulance Scheme As 30 Districts Report Zero Beneficiaries
Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee president Jitu Patwari has questioned the state’s BJP government over the PM Shri Air Ambulance service, alleging that despite spending around Rs 35 crore on the scheme, not a single patient in 30 districts of the state has benefited from it. Patwari made the remarks on Saturday, calling the ground reality of the scheme “concerning” and demanding that the government provide a full account of public money spent on it.
Patwari Cites Media Reports On Scheme’s Two-Year Spending
Patwari said that according to media reports, around Rs 35 crore has been spent on the PM Shri Air Ambulance service since it began in May 2024. He said the scheme was meant to transport accident victims, critically ill patients and those in urgent need to better hospitals in time to save their lives.
However, he said that more than two years since its launch, the fact that not a single patient in 30 districts has used the facility raises serious questions about who the scheme was designed for and why its benefits have not reached the general public.
He said the government is making monthly payments for a fixed number of flying hours for the air ambulance, while needy patients continue to be denied its benefits. He described this as a serious gap between government expenditure and public interest, adding that if crores of rupees from taxpayers’ money are being spent, the government must ensure the benefits reach every needy citizen in the state.
Patwari Says 159 Patients Benefited In Two Years, Mostly From Rewa
Patwari said that over two years, only 159 patients have used the air ambulance service, of which 56 patients alone were from Rewa district. He said this shows the scheme’s benefits have not been distributed evenly across the state, with many districts continuing to struggle to provide timely medical facilities to serious patients and accident victims.
He questioned why information about the service and its facility was not reaching needy patients despite the government paying crores of rupees for it. He asked whether district-level awareness was lacking, whether there was a coordination gap between hospitals and the health department, and whether the process of accessing the air ambulance was too complex to be used in genuine emergencies.
Patwari Says Scheme’s Value Lies In Ground-Level Impact, Not Publicity
The Congress state president said the BJP government continuously publicises its health schemes, but the real test of any healthcare system lies not in advertisements or government claims but in the facilities actually reaching patients at hospitals.
He said every minute matters for a critically ill patient, and in situations like accidents, heart attacks or severe injuries, immediate access to advanced medical care can make the difference between life and death. He said that if such a crucial facility remains inaccessible to patients across a large number of districts despite crores of rupees being spent, the government should review its entire system.
Patwari said the government should disclose the total amount spent on operating the air ambulance service, the number of hours it was made available, how often it was actually used, how many patients benefited, and how many were denied the facility.
Congress Demands Full Public Disclosure Of Financial Details
Patwari said the Congress party is demanding that the government make public the complete financial and administrative details related to the PM Shri Air Ambulance service. He said the government should disclose which agency or company is being paid for the air ambulance, the payment terms, the hourly payment rate, and the total number of hours the service has been used so far.
He said that if the government claims the scheme is meant for poor and critically ill patients in the state, it should also make public what arrangements have been made to ensure the scheme’s benefits reach the district level.
Patwari said that if the government, despite spending crores of rupees, cannot explain why the facility has not reached needy patients, it amounts not just to administrative negligence but a serious matter concerning public health.
Patwari Links Issue To Wider Healthcare Challenges In State
Patwari said Madhya Pradesh’s healthcare system is already facing multiple challenges, including a shortage of doctors and specialists, inadequate availability of medicines and essential resources, and a lack of quality health facilities in rural areas. He said the government should ensure maximum utilisation of available resources at a time when these issues remain a persistent concern.
He said that while the BJP government spends crores of rupees publicising its schemes, the same schemes often fail to reach the needy public, raising questions about the government’s priorities. He said the people of the state have a right to know where their tax money is being spent and what facilities they are receiving in return.
Patwari Raises Eight Questions For The State Government
Patwari raised a series of questions for the BJP government, including why not a single patient benefited from the scheme in 30 districts despite the Rs 35 crore expenditure, how many total hours have been paid for so far, and how many hours the air ambulance was actually operational.
He also asked why the service remained limited to just 159 patients over two years, why Rewa district alone accounted for 56 beneficiaries while other districts recorded far fewer, and what arrangements have been made to ensure awareness and availability of the scheme across all districts. He further asked why complete details of the scheme’s expenditure and actual usage have not been made public, and whether the government has ever conducted an independent evaluation of the scheme’s utility and impact.
Patwari said these questions should be answered directly by the Chief Minister and the Health Department, not just by government officials.
| Parameter | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total expenditure (since May 2024) | Approx. Rs 35 crore |
| Districts with zero beneficiaries | 30 |
| Total patients benefited (2 years) | 159 |
| Patients benefited in Rewa district | 56 |
Congress Chief Says State Needs Treatment, Not Advertisements
The Congress state president said the people of Madhya Pradesh need schemes that are visible on the ground, not just on paper and in advertisements. He said the purpose of a life-saving service like the air ambulance should be to save lives during emergencies, not to generate statistics or serve as a publicity tool.
Patwari said the Congress party will continue to demand answers from the government on every issue related to public money and public health. He said that if patients are not benefiting from the scheme despite crores of rupees being spent, accountability must be fixed and the system must be corrected immediately.
Also read: Bhopal Metro Underground Corridor Construction Gathers Pace
