New scheme only to divert focus from corruption cases: BJP

The Delhi BJP on Saturday said the new ‘free surgery in private hospitals’ scheme launched by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is only an attempt to divert people’s attention from the corruption cases against the government.

Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari, said, “During the last three budget presentations, AAP government claimed to have increased 50% of the budget for health services and to provide all medicines free of cost, besides making all its hospitals super specialty hospitals like AIIMS.”

“Kejriwal government has completed about half of its term now, this deception of providing health services through private hospitals is complete admission of its failure to provide it through government hospitals,” he said .

The chief minister, reacting to the criticism, said that it takes time to open new hospitals and the temporary arrangements have been launched till then, as part of the scheme. “We are ensuring that patients will not have to wait for long time to undergo surgery at government hospitals,” Kejriwal said.

As per the scheme, patients getting treatment at the Delhi government-run hospitals can undergo surgery in private health institutions free of cost.

Vijender Gupta, leader of opposition in Delhi Assembly, said that the announcement has been made in a hurry and clearly shows that the government has not made agreements with the empanelled hospitals. “The government must clarify if the private hospitals will also provide post-surgicaltreatment,”hesaid.

Delhi government spokesperson Nagendra Sharma said, “We don’t want to react to their allegations. They can say things without knowledge of the scheme, but people don’t trust them.”