Sri Vijaya Puram, October 21: For Savitri Mandal, a bedridden woman from an economically disadvantaged family in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the cost of reaching a mainland hospital had become a major obstacle to receiving specialised medical treatment. Now, arrangements for her ₹1.84-lakh stretcher transfer to Kolkata could offer hope to other critically ill islanders facing similar circumstances.
Mandal, a resident of Betabad who is unable to walk because of a medical condition affecting the lower half of her body, was scheduled to be flown to Kolkata on October 20, with the Health Department facilitating her transfer. Confirmation that she travelled as scheduled was not immediately available.
Her husband works as a labourer, and the couple has three young children. The cost of transporting Mandal on a stretcher would have been difficult for the family to bear without government assistance. A separate air ticket was also reportedly arranged for her husband to accompany her.
The case has brought attention to the revised Transport and Wage Loss Compensation Guidelines under Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), which came into effect in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on August 1, 2026.
The provisions allow eligible patients requiring stretcher transportation to receive cashless air travel arrangements to mainland hospitals, along with an accompanying attendant.
A crucial provision
Mandal’s case illustrates the significance of the revised guidelines, particularly for patients who cannot travel in ordinary aircraft seats.
Under the revised framework, eligible stretcher patients can receive cashless transportation coordinated through the State Health Agency, without a prescribed ceiling on stretcher travel expenses.
For other eligible patients referred to mainland hospitals, the framework provides travel reimbursement of up to ₹40,000, subject to applicable conditions. It also includes wage-loss compensation of ₹1,000 per day for up to 20 days for eligible beneficiaries.
The distinction is important because specialised air transportation can cost several times more than ordinary passenger tickets. Mandal’s estimated travel expense of ₹1.84 lakh demonstrates why a separate provision is necessary.
If implemented consistently, the arrangement could help other bedridden and critically ill patients receive treatment without their families having to raise substantial sums for transportation.
Healthcare challenges
Mandal’s difficulties reflect a wider problem confronting patients in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where geographical isolation and limited access to certain specialised medical services often make mainland referrals unavoidable.
Patients requiring complex surgeries, advanced diagnostics or specialised treatment frequently have to travel to Kolkata, Chennai or other mainland cities.
For residents of remote islands, reaching Sri Vijaya Puram itself can involve lengthy journeys by sea or helicopter. Weather disruptions, limited transport availability and the need for medical escorts can make referrals particularly difficult.
Although G.B. Pant Hospital serves as a major referral centre, patients requiring certain advanced treatments remain dependent on mainland hospitals.
The financial burden extends beyond treatment expenses. Airfare, accommodation, local transportation and lost wages can place considerable pressure on families, particularly those dependent on daily earnings.
For patients such as Mandal, who require stretcher transportation, the difficulties are even greater. Specialised airline arrangements, medical clearance and coordination between hospitals and health authorities are essential before a transfer can take place.
Her case demonstrates why government support for medical transportation is crucial to ensuring that eligible island residents can access specialised healthcare.
MP’s intervention
Andaman and Nicobar Islands MP Bishnu Pada Ray visited Mandal’s residence in Betabad and met her family.
Ray said efforts had been made to facilitate her transfer to Kolkata and assured the family of further assistance wherever possible.
According to the MP, Mandal’s stretcher transportation was estimated to cost ₹1.84 lakh, while a separate ticket was being arranged for her husband.
Ray also said he had raised the issue of medical travel assistance for island residents with Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, seeking improvements to existing provisions for patients requiring treatment on the mainland.
While Mandal’s case has benefited from the attention of the MP and the Health Department, its wider significance lies in whether similar assistance can be accessed routinely by other eligible patients.
A clearly defined and efficiently implemented system for medical referrals and transportation could reduce the dependence of vulnerable families on individual interventions.
For Mandal, the immediate priority is receiving the treatment she needs. For other critically ill islanders, her case could demonstrate how the revised assistance provisions can help ensure that the cost of reaching a mainland hospital does not become a barrier to potentially life-saving care.
