Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan hits back at Arvind Kejriwal over Ayushman Bharat stand-off, fires point-by-point counter

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, on Saturday fired a point-by-point rebuttle at reply of Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi, which was released on social media asserting that Delhi Government shall t implement Ayushman Bharat Prhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) in Delhi.

In a letter written to Chief Minister of Delhi on Saturday, Dr Harsh Vardhan stated that response shows that Chief Minister is least interested in welfare of people of Delhi.

“All your fancy schemes, including much-touted Universal Cover Health Scheme, anunced more than a year ago, are still lying on drawing boards awaiting implementation even after four and a half years. Your Mohalla Clinics are an utter flop and drastic neglect of patient care in Delhi government hospitals is re for all to see,” wrote Union Health Minister.

issue pertaining to implementation of health scheme has been a topic of debate between Aam Ami Party (AAP)-led government and National Health Authority (NHA).

On June 7, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took to Twitter to tell Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Harsh Vardhan, that Delhi alrey has a good health scheme which need t be replaced by central Government’s scheme and if it is replaced n it will affect residents of Delhi.

Despite Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Harsh Vardhan’s plea to Delhi Chief Minister and Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain to accept and implement Ayushman Bharat Scheme, y refused to accept it on grounds that it would benefit only 10 lakh of people as against two crore population of Delhi.

“We will provide a health facility to 100% population here. We won’t pick and choose. That isn’t needed in Delhi. Both poor and rich will receive treatment. It’s responsibility of Delhi government to provide treatment to all residents of Delhi,” said Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain.

Refuting statements of Chief Minister of Delhi furr, Dr. Harsh Vardhan 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 ir pocket to get so-called “free treatment”.

“PMJAY targets almost 30 lakh (15% of total population) persons in Delhi who are most poor and vulnerable. You have also mentioned that income criterion of Rs. 10,000 per month is less than minimum ws 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 refore, such families which were earning less than Rs. 10,000 per month in 2011 are eligible under scheme”

Dr Harsh Vardhan furr said that proposed scheme of Delhi Government can be linked with PMJAY for enhanced cover for poor and vulnerable population of Delhi as y will t only get rey access to private hospitals but will also be able to get benefits across country.

“Since you are anyway providing OPD cover through your proposed scheme, linking with PM-JAY for in-patient cover will be a boon for poor and vulnerable population of Delhi as y will t only get rey access to private hospitals but will also be able to get benefits across country. You can even expand PM-JAY to cover more beneficiaries as has been done by many or States”, he ded.

Citing benefits of this scheme, Minister ded  “Ar highlight of PMJAY is that it offers portability and refore, beneficiaries of this scheme can get benefits across country, in any of more than 15,000 impanelled hospitals. Since people often move within country for various reasons, portability of benefits is very critical. In proposed State scheme, re is portability of benefits, so beneficiary under this scheme is quite vulnerable if he moves out of Delhi,”.

Despite delock, Union Health Minister again extended invitation to Chief Minister to work toger for larger good of people of Delhi and country.

“Be part of historical health sector revolution that has been visualised by our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji. Ayushman Bharat is world’s most ambitious and largest free government healthcare program. Let us join hands to celebrate each milestone in journey towards New India,”  said Dr Harsh Vardhan .