Ayushman health plan white elephant, says Dy CM Sisodia

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 19

Clearing the Aam Aadmi Party’s stand on not implementing the Ayushman Bharat scheme in the state, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, on Wednesday, termed the scheme as a white elephant. He said the scheme was not practical and had failed the people of the country. The need of the hour was to strengthen the healthcare infrastructure and give access to healthcare services to all. This scheme was benefiting only the insurance companies, he claimed.

“The encephalitis death toll in Bihar has risen to 112. Several hundred children are still battling for life in Bihar hospitals,” said Sisodia. He said the Delhi Government was with Bihar in this time of difficulty.

This crisis has raised questions on the level of preparedness and the effectiveness of the centre-run health schemes such as Ayushman Bharat. “The BJP and Union ministers have been advertising the Ayushman Bharat scheme lately. Unfortunately, this crisis has proven that the scheme is a white elephant. The scheme does not provide healthcare coverage to the common man since the eligibility requirements mandate that persons who own telephones, two-wheelers or refrigerator are not covered under the scheme. The scheme does not provide coverage for primary healthcare and outpatient treatment,” said Sisodia.

Health Minister Satyendra Jain raised the question that why were encephalitis patients in Bihar not being treated at private hospitals under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. He said, “Most of the children suffering (from encephalitis) would have qualified under the eligibility requirements of Ayushman Bharat. Yet, we find that all children are being treated at government hospitals.”

Sisodia said, “The entire country is distraught and concerned by the visuals being displayed by the media. The images of children crying and suffering in hospitals are heartbreaking. In this time of difficulty, on behalf of the Delhi Government, we can send teams of doctors, para-medical staff, medicines and ambulances, to the state.”

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