Controversy has once again deepened in Delhi regarding the Centre’s Ayushman Bharat scheme. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has filed an affidavit in the Delhi High Court clearly refusing to implement this scheme. The government says that implementing the Ayushman Bharat scheme would amount to weakening the already effective Delhi Arogya Kosh (DAK) scheme.
Delhi government logic Given that his plan is more comprehensive and effective. The Ayushman Bharat scheme will benefit only a limited population of Delhi, while the DAK scheme provides free and quality healthcare services to every citizen.
AAP government to court told That the Centre’s Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) covers only 12-15% of Delhi’s population. In contrast, the Delhi Arogya Kosh Yojana benefits the people of the entire state. Under this scheme, patients get free treatment in any empaneled private hospital in the capital. The government said that their plan is transparent and its impact is more far-reaching. The DAK scheme not only benefits Delhiites but also provides relief to patients coming for treatment from neighboring states.
The Delhi government emphasized in the affidavit that the network of government hospitals in the capital is very strong. More than 30% of the patients undergoing treatment in major government hospitals in Delhi come from neighboring states like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Bihar. The government claims that this data shows that the health services provided in Delhi hospitals are much better than the facilities available under the Ayushman Bharat scheme in other states.
The AAP government has requested to dismiss this petition calling it politically motivated. The government said that BJP was able to win only 10% seats in the Delhi Assembly elections, yet it is trying to impose its policies forcefully. The government says that making health policy is a state subject and implementing the Centre’s plan amounts to interference in Delhi’s jurisdiction.
Delhi government also Said That the Ayushman Bharat scheme has been made on the basis of the old 2011 census, which has become irrelevant as per the needs of the present time. Many needy people may be deprived of benefits under this scheme, whereas the DAK scheme goes beyond any such limitation and is more inclusive.
BJP MPs from Delhi have filed a PIL in the High Court. In this he has demanded from the court that the Delhi government should be directed to implement the Ayushman Bharat scheme. BJP MPs say that this scheme has been implemented in the entire country and the citizens of Delhi should also get its benefits.
Let us tell you that last month the Delhi High Court had directed the Delhi Government and the Center to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by January 5 to implement the Ayushman Bharat scheme. The court had said that when 33 states and union territories have implemented this scheme, it is not appropriate not to implement it in Delhi.
