Jaykishan Kapadia, a 32-year-old resident of Mehsana district in Gujarat, spent years confined to a wheelchair, his weight dropping to barely 30–35 kilograms and his hope of walking again nearly extinguished — until the Ayushman Bharat scheme intervened and funded a series of surgeries that have since allowed him to stand and move independently. His recovery, completed at the Government Spine Institute in Ahmedabad, is being cited as a concrete illustration of the Central government's flagship health coverage programme reaching the economically disadvantaged.

A Health Crisis That Began at 17

Jaykishan's ordeal started early. He developed a kidney ailment at the age of 17, and his mother saved his life by donating one of her own kidneys. The transplant was performed in 2012, and his health remained relatively stable for a period. However, prolonged use of steroid medications — a standard post-transplant protocol — gradually took a severe toll on both his hip joints.

Over time, his limbs stiffened, joint pain became debilitating, and he lost the ability to perform basic daily tasks. He grew entirely dependent on a wheelchair. Financial hardship made continued private treatment impossible, and at his lowest, his weight had fallen to roughly 30–35 kilograms.

Treatment Under Ayushman Bharat

Approximately three years ago, Jaykishan's mother brought him to the Government Spine Institute in Ahmedabad, where he came under the care of Dr. Piyush Mittal, Director of the Institute, and his team of specialists. His treatment was covered entirely under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, which provides cashless healthcare to economically weaker sections across India.

A total of four surgeries were carried out, including bilateral hip replacement procedures performed sequentially — one hip at a time. Alongside surgery, a structured programme of physiotherapy and rehabilitation was initiated to rebuild his strength and mobility.

What the Doctors Said

Dr. Piyush Mittal described Jaykishan's condition at the time of admission as critical. 'We started his treatment involving physiotherapy and necessary medication. Focus was also placed on strengthening his mental well-being. Subsequently, both his hips were operated on, one by one. Our goal was to enable him to stand on his own feet again and lead an independent life,' Dr. Mittal said.

He noted that Jaykishan could not get out of bed unaided when he first arrived, his bones had weakened significantly, and both hip joints were severely compromised.

Jaykishan's Own Words

Reflecting on his transformation, Jaykishan said: 'My mother brought me to the hospital in a wheelchair. At that time, I couldn't even stand up properly. The doctors here performed surgery on me — first on one leg, and then on the other. I feel much better now. There was a time when I never thought I would be able to walk again, but seeing the improvement in my condition now feels wonderful.'

He expressed deep gratitude to the government for making the welfare scheme available to patients like him, and said he now aspires to find employment and become a source of financial support for his mother — who has sacrificed enormously for his survival.

Broader Significance

The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) was launched by the Centre to provide health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation, targeting the bottom 40% of India's population by economic status. Cases such as Jaykishan's — involving multiple high-cost surgeries that would be unaffordable out-of-pocket — represent the programme's stated core use case. With complex orthopaedic procedures among the costlier interventions in the public health system, the scheme's role in funding his bilateral hip replacements underscores its reach in Gujarat's district-level population.