India, Aug. 5 -- Madhya Pradesh's PM (Prime Minister) Shri Air Ambulance Service launched in May 2024 has benefited 159 patients; 32 of them are either leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party or their friends or relatives.

Of the 159, only 13 have paid for the service -- those without an Ayushman card and being flown to a hospital outside the state have to pay for it according to the contours of the scheme -- including a BJP leader and his relatives/friends.

The scheme comes under the health department and health minister Rajendra Shukla said people haven't paid for the service because the government sometimes pays on humanitarian grounds.

The service is provided by Flyola, a private company that offers on-demand custom flight solutions....