AAP hits back at PM: Do not need PM-JAY since Delhi’s own schemes cover everyone
Calling it a “failed initiative”, Bharadwaj said that the number of patients in Delhi government hospitals coming from states where the scheme has been implemented shows that it is not benefiting people.
4 min read
Prime Minister Narendra Modi On the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi took on the governments in Delhi and West Bengal for not adopting the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj told The Indian Express on Tuesday that the AAP government has no intention of adopting the scheme.
Calling it a “failed initiative”, Bharadwaj said that the number of patients in Delhi government hospitals coming from states where the scheme has been implemented shows that it is not benefiting people.
In Delhi, of the 1,037 private hospitals — which comprise 46% of the over 57,000-bed strength in the city — only 57 are empanelled under the scheme.
Modi, speaking at the launch of the expanded scheme (AB PM-JAY) to cover everyone aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their income, said on Tuesday that Delhi and West Bengal were not adopting it because of “politics”. “I am prevented from serving older people of Delhi and West Bengal because of politics… I am pained,” Modi said.
AAP chief and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said it was not right to politicise people’s health. “Under the Delhi government’s scheme, every person living in Delhi gets free treatment no matter how much it costs – from a Rs 5 pill to treatment worth Rs 1 crore… I will send you the names of lakhs of people who have benefited from this… I request you to study the Delhi model and instead of Ayushman Bharat Yojana, implement the Delhi model all over India so that people can benefit on the ground,” he posted on X.
Bharadwaj, meanwhile, said that Delhi did not need the scheme since its own schemes cover everyone. “The Centre’s scheme has a cap of Rs 5 lakh. Moreover, the eligibility criteria are very stringent. Even if there are no criteria for those above the age of 70, Delhi does not need this scheme since it has schemes like free referral for tests at private labs… the scheme where accident victims can get treated at private hospitals and the cost is borne by the state,” he said.
Bharadwaj claimed that at least half of the patients who are admitted in Delhi government hospitals such as Lok Nayak, GB Pant, and GTB Hospital are from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
“BJP should answer why poor patients from BJP-ruled states such as UP, Rajasthan and Haryana are traveling hundreds of kilometres to get free treatment at Delhi government hospitals. Why are these poor patients not getting free treatment under the Ayushman Bharat scheme?” he asked.
With Modi taking on the Delhi government, where Assembly elections are due early next year, the state BJP is planning to make the non-implementation of the scheme a key issue.
Taking on the AAP government on Tuesday, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said: “The scheme is not being allowed to be implemented in Delhi because there is a corrupt CM… it will not be allowed to take off in Delhi because the Delhi CM stalls each scheme that can benefit the people of Delhi.”
“I want to ask Arvind Kejriwal to give one reason why the scheme is not being implemented in Delhi… just because the honourable PM is extending it? Just think about the lakhs of people who may have benefitted from it… but Arvind Kejriwal is not allowing it to take off because of petty, dirty and corrupt politics. The PM has displayed his nobility by apologising to the elderly citizens of Delhi today… it is Kejriwal who should be saying sorry,” he added.
In February, Lt Governor V K Saxena had asked then CM Kejriwal to implement the scheme and “grant relief” to the people of Delhi.
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