NEW DELHI, June 8: Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Harsh Vardhan on Saturday expressed deep anguish at the reply of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal which was released on social media asserting that Delhi Government shall not implement Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana here.
In a letter written to Mr Kejriwal, Dr Vardhan stated that the response shows that the Chief Minister is least interested in the welfare of the people of Delhi. The claim that the Delhi Government is implementing free health care and, therefore, need not implement Ayushman Bharat is baseless.
“All your fancy schemes, including the much-touted Universal Coverage Health Scheme, announced more than a year ago, are still lying on the drawing boards awaiting implementation even after four and a half years. Your Mohalla Clinics are an utter flop and the drastic neglect of patient care in Delhi government hospitals is there for all to see,” the Union Health Minister elaborated in his reply.
The Union Health Minister again extended the invitation to the Chief Minister to work together for the larger good of the people of Delhi and the country.
“Be part of the historical health sector revolution that has been visualised by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Ayushman Bharat is the world’s most ambitious and largest free government healthcare program. Let us join hands to celebrate each milestone in the journey towards New India,” Dr Vardhan has written, an official statement here said.
Refuting the statements of Mr Kejriwal, the Minister stated that while all states can claim to be providing free health care through government hospitals, in reality, citizens still have to spend a lot from their pocket to get the so-called “free treatment”.
“PMJAY targets almost 30 lakh (15 per cent of total population) persons in Delhi who are most poor and vulnerable. You have also mentioned that the income criterion of Rs 10,000 per month is less than the minimum wages in Delhi but I want to correct you that this criterion of Rs. 10,000 per month was used on data collected in 2011 and therefore, such families which were earning less than Rs. 10,000 per month in 2011 are eligible under the scheme,” Dr Vardhan added.
He added that the families were identified from SECC data based on specific criteria as per conditions existing in 2011 and therefore these families are most vulnerable and need special attention.
“You should know that in 2011 minimum wages in Delhi stood at a mere Rs. 6,656 for unskilled workers and Rs. 8,112 for skilled. These eligible families are the most vulnerable ones and therefore, need maximum support,” he added.
Disproving the claim of Chief Minister on unlimited cover being provided under the “free health scheme of Delhi Government”, Dr Vardhan stated that unlimited cover has no meaning if people still have to pay to get the treatment. (PTI)
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