While dealing with a PIL on the issue of the absence of Bone Marrow Transplantation facilities in hospitals/medical colleges run in the Government Sector, the Andhra Pradesh High Court has sought an affidavit from the State on the issue. The High Court expressed astonishment over the fact that a progressive State like Andhra Pradesh has not conceived a programme whereby such treatment could be made available in government-run hospitals.

The High Court was considering a PIL centered on the lack of provision for conducting a Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT), which is a highly expensive procedure and is to be undertaken over a period of time, in any of the hospitals/medical colleges run in the Government Sector.

The Division Bench of Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Challa Gunaranjan stated, “In our opinion, if the other states in the country could provide for such a treatment, we have no reason to believe that a progressive State like Andhra Pradesh does not have such a capacity or have not conceived a programme whereby such a treatment could be made available in Government run hospitals or the medical colleges.”

“The Government may also, in the meantime, consider increasing the upper limit for financial reimbursement to the patients affected with the disease which requires such a treatment”, it ordered.

The petitioner appeared in person while Special Government Pleader S. Pranathi represented the Respondent.

It was stated that a large number of private hospitals do have this facility for which an exorbitant amount is paid by the patients, who, in all cases, may not be in a position to afford the treatment. It was urged that by virtue of G.O.Rt.No.694, Health, Medical & Family Welfare (I) Department, dated November 11, 2020, the Bone Marrow Transplantation was introduced under the erstwhile Dr.Y.S.R. Aarogyasri Scheme, now Dr. N.T.R. Vaidya Seva, and the amount which was payable for such a treatment requiring Bone Marrow Transplant is capped at Rs.11,00,000 for patients above the age of 14 years and Rs.10,00,000 for patients below 14 years.

It was brought to the Court’s notice that several patients have lost their lives on account of their financial incapacity. The petitioner had also drawn the Court’s attention to the fact that many neighbouring states have established Government run Bone Marrow Transplant Units and are providing such services almost free of cost.

The Bench ordered, “Let an affidavit be filed with regard to the issues that have been involved in the present petition.”

The Special Government Pleader appearing for the State stated that the Government is contemplating the introduction of this specialised treatment in Government-run hospitals. “Let an affidavit be filed giving the timelines within which the aforementioned procedures could be successfully undertaken with trained faculty”, it ordered.

Cause Title: Guntha Venkata Sai Kumar v. The State of Andhra Pradesh (Neutral Citation: WP(PIL) NO: 12 of 2026)

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Andhra Pradesh High CourtChief Justice Dhiraj Singh ThakurJustice Challa Gunaranjan

Tulip Kanth

Assistant Editor

Tulip Kanth is an Assistant Editor at Verdictum having over 5 years of experience in the field of legal journalism and editing. She extensively covers judgments of the Supreme Court, High Courts as well as Tribunals. She has previously worked with a legal publishing website where she oversaw the work of other editors and has also created updates on notifications of different Government Ministries. She holds an English Honours Degree from SGTB Khalsa College, Delhi University and has completed her LLB course with specialisation in Corporate Law from Amity University.