Dhanbad: Subodh Singh, a daily-wage earner in Dhaiya, has been suffering from renal dysfunction for two years now. The 37-year-old is out of job and his wife is struggling to make both ends meet, given a maid's paltry pay.

Worse, Subodh hasn't received his medical instalment under Mukhyamantri Gambhir Bimari Yojana. He had obtained an estimate for a second round of dialysis from Asharfi Hospital, an empanelled facility under the scheme, and applied for the instalment in January. His treatment is pending in the absence of funds.

Health department insiders said more than 223 applications of patients suffering from chronic illnesses such as renal dysfunction, cancer and coronary artery were gathering dust despite completion of all formalities, including treatment recommendation from a special committee headed by the civil surgeon.

These people are entitled to free or subsidised care at one of the 44 empanelled hospitals, but are waiting in vain for necessary attention.

"A corpus of Rs 2.5 lakh is provided for renal dysfunction. Subodh got one instalment last September and underwent dialysis. His second round of treatment is due, but his application is lying at the civil surgeon's office," said Dablu Singh, a cousin of Subodh.

Jharia resident Malti Devi (41), wife of daily-wage earner Shankar Sao, is grappling with Stage III cancer, but she has no money for chemotherapy because her application under the ambitious scheme hasn't been okayed.

Former councillor of Ward 37 in Jharia Anup Sao said owing to lack of funds under the scheme, they had had to apply at Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute in Calcutta. "There is heavy rush and she has been given a chemo date on June 18. Malti Devi could have been treated here had she received the money," he said.

Sao maintained that a large number of patients suffering from chronic diseases were being deprived of treatment owing to dearth of funds under the said scheme.

"I had written a letter to chief minister Raghubar Das on March 16, requesting him for more funds under the scheme on regular basis or upgrading state-run PMCH to ensure treatment of all chronic diseases in the town," he added.

Assistant chief medical officer (Dhanbad) Chandrambika Srivastava said they had received a total sum of Rs 6.94 crore under the scheme from the state government and treatment had been provided to 450 patients in the financial year that just ended. But, she admitted that at least 223 applications were still pending.

"The last grant of Rs 1.5 crore was provided on February 22 after which we didn't receive any money. Processing of applications has been completed and we can provide the funds to 223 patients as soon as we get the same from the state," Srivastava, who is also the acting civil surgeon, said.