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Amidst an ongoing dispute between the Centre and the Delhi government over the Ayushman Bharat scheme, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Wednesday launched a scathing critique of former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of depriving lakhs of people of the scheme simply out of fear that it would expose the reality of his "falsely promoted health model".
In a detailed post on X directed at Kejriwal, LG Saxena highlighted that Ayushman Bharat is a significant scheme by the Government of India, benefiting millions across the country. "You have denied lakhs of people in Delhi access to this scheme merely because you feared it might expose the truth behind your falsely promoted health model and your habit of claiming undue credit. You opposed Ayushman Bharat purely because you wanted your name linked to it. In June 2018, your government's health department recommended its implementation for public welfare, and the then Health Minister even approved its launch in Delhi," he stated. "However, by August 2018, your government insisted on renaming it to 'Mukhyamantri Aam Aadmi Health Insurance Scheme Ayushman Bharat'. The Government of India, which bears the bulk of the scheme's cost, agreed to this, allowing you to append your name after 'Ayushman Bharat,'" LG Saxena added. The Delhi LG also noted that the then Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister had announced in the 2020-21 budget speech that the Delhi government would implement the Ayushman Bharat Jan Arogya Yojana after acknowledging its benefits. "But despite this, your vanity and desire for publicity have prevented the Delhi government from implementing the scheme. Repeatedly, the file has been sent to your ministers, only to be returned with unnecessary and baseless objections," he remarked. Criticising the Delhi health model, LG VK Saxena said it is little more than an illusion created by an extensive publicity machine. "For years, you have withheld the CAG report of the health department, preventing it from being presented in the Legislative Assembly, fearing it might expose your fabricated model. Delhi may be the only place where the High Court has had to order the Health Minister to appear in person to ensure basic medicine availability. It might also be the only place where courts have had to order the repair of the CT scan machine in the city's largest government hospital," he added. Saxena also alleged that since 2013, the AAP government has not updated the annually revised 'Essential Drug List,' leading to severe medicine shortages and widespread corruption in hospitals. "Delhi's health model has involved spending Rs10,000 crore on constructing buildings for 24 hospitals, yet no provision has been made for appointing 38,000 doctors and healthcare workers. These buildings are constructed without any equipment, operational theatres, nursing stations, or even mortuaries," he said. Intensifying his criticism, Saxena claimed that the "Mohalla Clinics" are under CBI investigation due to alleged corruption in testing, with their poor conditions evident on the streets. "While other states have implemented the Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) in hospitals, Delhi government hospitals have yet to adopt it. There is no tracking of bed availability, OPD crowding, or patient benefits. In major Delhi hospitals like GTB, Lok Nayak, Lal Bahadur Shastri, and Baba Saheb Ambedkar, anyone can witness the deplorable condition of patients and the deteriorating, filthy environment," he stated. Continuing his remarks, LG Saxena added that discussing such unfortunate issues during Diwali would be best avoided. "Over the last decade, the people of Delhi have suffered under your hollow health model. I hope that, setting aside politics and accepting the reality, you will promptly implement Ayushman Bharat in Delhi. Now that you are no longer Chief Minister, you may no longer feel the need for Ayushman Bharat to carry the Chief Minister's name," VK Saxena concluded. (ANI)
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