A Andhra Pradesh High Court lawyer has submitted a representation to Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu on Monday, seeking a ‘Medical Air Corridor’ (MAC) to facilitate affordable air travel for patients suffering from rare diseases, severe autoimmune disorders and critical blood disorders.
S.K. Srikrishna Yesaswi, an advocate practising in the AP High Court submitted the representation highlighting the difficulties faced by patients travelling from remote regions to designated Centres of Excellence (CoEs) for specialised treatment under the National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021.
Patients with conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, haemophilia and thalassaemia often endure exhausting long-distance journeys by road and rail. Prolonged travel and crowded environments can aggravate their medical vulnerabilities, while expensive airfares make safer travel unaffordable for many families, the representation stated.
The representation seeks a 50% concession on base airfares through a Viability Gap Funding mechanism modelled on the Regional Connectivity Scheme-UDAN. It identifies priority routes connecting northeastern, eastern, northern and southern regions with major medical hubs, including Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai and Mumbai.
It also recommended integrating medical travel vouchers with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, enabling verified CoE clinicians to issue travel assistance to eligible patients.
Additionally, the proposal sought priority airport services, expedited security checks, complimentary wheelchair assistance and priority boarding for patients with certified medical and mobility requirements.
The proposed framework aims to reduce financial and physical barriers to specialised healthcare, improving access to timely treatment for vulnerable patients across the country, according to the advocate here in a release.
Published - October 26, 2026 07:28 pm IST