Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal on Tuesday approved a scheme aimed at providing quality healthcare to Delhiites. The proposal does not have an income criterion, as proposed by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.
The ‘quality health for all’ scheme, applicable to permanent residents of Delhi, pertains to providing patients specified high-end diagnostic (radiological) tests and surgeries free-of-cost at private hospitals in case of delay in government facilities.
No income criteria
The scheme was passed by the Cabinet on December 12 and subsequently sent to Mr. Baijal for approval.
He had, however, red-flagged it citing several issues and had advised the government to retain some “income ceiling” so that the resources of the government are used to help only the poor and the needy.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had, however, said that if an income criteria was introduced it would practically “kill” the scheme.
Health Minister Satyendar Jain had last week argued that those who fall above the ceiling limit are tax-payers too, so no one should be restricted from availing the service.
After the approval on Tuesday, Mr. Kejriwal took to Twitter: “Honble @LtGovDelhi approves ’Quality Health for all’ scheme without income criteria. Thank u so much sir [sic].” This is the second consecutive day that the CM has thanked the L-G.
On Monday, Mr. Kejriwal had thanked Mr. Baijal for his nod to the AAP government’s scheme to allow doorstep delivery of 40 services.
Mr. Baijal, on December 29, had concurred with the amendments to the Delhi Arogya Kosh (DAK) scheme, but had advised the government to retain some “income ceiling” so that the resources of the government are used to help the poor and the needy, and the “poor are not crowded out by the well-to-do”.
This was, however, opposed by the government. “We cannot differentiate between the poor and rich while providing medicine to them for their wellness,” Mr. Jain had said.
The Delhi government issued a statement on Tuesday stating it wanted to ensure that people “irrespective of their economic status get best health and education facilities”.
Tests and surgeries
“Under the scheme, the government is currently facilitating 52 specified surgeries free-of-cost at private hospitals in Delhi-NCR. There is no income limit for residents of Delhi, who are allotted a date of surgery after 30 days of diagnosis at one of the 24 specified government hospitals to avail the scheme,” the statement read.
The specified surgeries include heart bypass, cataract surgery and 17 types of kidney operations.
“Besides Aadhaar cards, patients can submit voter ID or driving licence to avail the services,” it added. So far, “more than 12,000 people” have availed the scheme, read the statement.
