Delhi L-G nod to AAP’s ‘health for all’, income criterion not included

The scheme, ‘Quality Healthcare for All’, had a soft launch last year. According to the government, more than 12,000 people benefitted from it between March and December 2017.

New Delhi Delhi’s Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal on Tuesday approved the state government’s flagship healthcare project that will provide high-end diagnostic tests and surgeries for free at private centres and hospitals.

Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal with chief minister Arvind Kejriwal at an event. (PTI Photo)

The scheme, ‘Quality Healthcare for All’, had a soft launch last year. According to the government, more than 12,000 people benefitted from it between March and December 2017.

But the future of the scheme, which would have been suspended if it had not got Baijal’s nod, had been in doubt because the L-G had suggested only families that earned below a particular income bracket should be covered by the scheme. The Aam Aadmi Party government had replied that such a clause would make the scheme unworkable. It would mean the government would have to waste time and money checking whether applicants were qualified to avail benefits.

“Hon’ble @LtGovDelhi approves “Quality Health for all” scheme without income criteria. Thank u so much sir,” tweeted Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday, soon after the L-G agreed to approve the plan without the income criteria.

The Delhi government has also tied up with 67 private centres to provide high-end diagnostics, such as MRI and PET-CT, that are not available at government hospitals.

“It is important to provide all facilities in government hospitals, but till this is done, patients with acute medical ailments cannot be left at the mercy of private hospitals. Health services in the private sector are so expensive that the biggest worry for a family is not the health of the patient but where the money will come from,” the government said in its release.

The L-G had also asked Delhi government to introduce income brackets for the 212 tests done at mohalla clinics in YEAR. The government had responded: ”All treatments, including medicines, tests and consultation is free for all patients coming to mohalla clinics, irrespective of income limits. Due to this, a large number of middle-class people are also visiting these centres.”