Delhi vs Central: A Healthcare Clash Over Ayushman Bharat

Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj criticized the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, branding it as ineffective. He highlighted that Delhi offers free and unlimited healthcare, contrasting with the central scheme which imposes financial limits. The discussion underscores tension as Delhi refuses participation in the scheme for political reasons.

In a pointed critique, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj described the Ayushman Bharat Scheme as a failed initiative. He contended that while it promises free healthcare for the impoverished, the reality falls short, obligating patients to pay once a Rs 5 lakh cap is reached, even in government hospitals.

Highlighting Delhi's healthcare model, Bharadwaj emphasized its success in providing unrestricted free treatment for all city residents. Contrasting with the Ayushman Bharat scheme, Delhi's program ensures that financial constraints do not impede access to medical care, offering services from tests to medicines without charge, even at private hospitals.

The minister invited BJP leaders and media to visit Delhi hospitals, noting that half the patients hail from BJP-ruled states. This, Bharadwaj argued, indicates the central scheme's inadequacy, as these patients should be served locally under Ayushman Bharat. In response, Prime Minister Modi apologized to seniors in Delhi and West Bengal, attributing their exclusion from the scheme to political decisions by their state governments.

(With inputs from agencies.)