‘The Golden Card Scheme’: A disappointment for cancer patients in Kashmir

Skims soura hospital
Skims Soura Hospital, photo credit; Zaid Malik

 Sitting by the bedside of my ailing mother in SKIMS Soura Hospital, I was overwhelmed with despair. What used to be a source of hope—the Golden Card Scheme—became a heartless burden. 

 My mother is a cancer warrior who has been fighting for her life since last year. The scheme’s promise of covering up to ₹5 lakhs per annum seems more like a distant dream.So I was shocked when I applied for the Golden Card to find that the scheme would cover only a small percentage of the chemotherapy costs while leaving us to bear a huge and unaffordable cost per session. To our chagrin, the pharmacy of the hospital sold us an injection for ₹25,000, which we later learned could have been purchased for ₹17,000 at any outside pharmacy. This overt discrepancy in price is nothing but a clear indication of the failure of our healthcare system.

When I asked the authorities at the hospital why the scheme was not covering all of the chemotherapy costs, they replied pretty shockingly. Sometimes they said that the medicines she required for chemotherapy weren’t covered by the scheme. Another time, they said absolutely nothing, and we were in for ourselves. 

System Failure: Hospital’s Incompetence skims Soura Hospital’s machinery and potential are the striking concerns. High-cost tests such as CT scans and MRIs are often conducted outdoors due to the unavailability of machines or long waiting periods. Since the machines are scarce and insufficient, patients are given long dates for these tests, which is unacceptable for a time-sensitive disease like cancer. As a result, many patients, especially those from very poor backgrounds, are compelled to carry on the tests outside.A hospital employee says, “We do only six CT scans in a day and don’t accept more than that.” Such an admission marks a failure to meet demand for diagnostic tests.Cancer patients like my mother cannot afford to wait for two months for a test; the delay can be fatal. 

My family’s story is not unique. Many Kashmiri families are unable to have access to affordable healthcare, and this is because the Golden Card Scheme has failed miserably.I am a student. However, my mother was diagnosed with cancer, forcing me to leave my study. My mind, earlier engaged in academics, is nowadays engrossed in woe and hardship.My father is a laborer and cannot afford the expenses. How many more families will suffer in silence?The government needs to overhaul the Golden Card Scheme. We require more extensive coverage of critical treatments, transparency in guidelines and coverage, and accountability from those responsible for the scheme’s implementation. More than that, the hospital pharmacy’s pricing system needs a revamp. 

The fact that the same injection costs a different amount raises grave doubts over the commitment of the hospital to the affordability of healthcare.I call on the policymakers to take this on board and reform the scheme because we deserve much better health care and a system that cares. 

As I sit and watch my mother go through chemotherapy, I am reminded of so many families barely scraping by to make ends meet.This failure of the Golden Card Scheme reveals the poor healthcare system. It’s high time that the government takes responsibility for reforming the scheme. Kashmiris deserve better. We deserve a benevolent, effective, and accountable healthcare system. We deserve a Golden Card Scheme that delivers what it promises to bring relief to those most in need. 

The government has been claiming to provide a sum of up to ₹5 lakhs per annum in the Golden Card Scheme; this is a myth far from reality. We deserve a transparent, accountable, and effective scheme to provide relief to cancer patients.I urge the government to look into the inconsistencies about the Golden Card Scheme and introduce urgent change. We cannot wait anymore. These lives are waiting for it.


 We deserve better, much better. We deserve healthcare that cares.Hospital infrastructure in Kashmir should also be enhanced by the government. It faces major shortages of machinery and staff. The Golden Card Scheme should be ensured to be implemented with all transparency and accountability. We Kashmiris are suffering; the time has come for the government to take action. We need a compassionate, effective, and accountable healthcare system. We need a Golden Card Scheme that promises and delivers relief for the ones who need it the most.

Zaid Malik is a Kashmir-based writer and independent journalist from Bandipora. His work has been featured in prominent publications, including The Muslim Vibe and Good Morning Kashmir. With a focus on socially relevant issues, Zaid’s stories cover climate, environment, and healthcare. Drawing from his personal experiences, including his mother’s battle with cancer, he advocates for healthcare reform in India, with a special emphasis on Kashmir. Zaid is currently pursuing a BSc degree.Contact: Email: [email protected]

This article was also published in Good Morning Kashmir newspaper. 

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