The Ex-Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, and the AAP president have particularly attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the controversies that surrounded the Ayushman Bharat health insurance.
Addressing a public gathering, Modi also criticised the Delhi and West Bengal state governments saying that they had failed to properly implement the scheme due to ‘political imperatives’. He regretted stating that such areas should provide free health care, especially for elderly citizens in these areas, as a way of helping senior citizens.
Delivering a speech at the All India Institute of Ayurveda in New Delhi, Modi said, “I apologize to all those above the age of 70 in Delhi and West Bengal. I understand your plight, but because of the actions of the state governments, I can not help you.” His remarks were meant to get the message across that there was inadequate health care provision by local authorities.
As a reply on X (previously Twitter), Kejriwal criticized the Prime Minister, stating that political issues should not be introduced in public health issues. He urged the reports to be more constructive than accusative.
Kejriwal appealed to Modi and requested him to look at the healthcare model developed in Delhi, which, Kejriwal reasons, provides solutions to the issues citizens face. He pointed out that the Prime Minister should replicate the Delhi model across the country, stating that it would have a positive impact on the public.
Moving to the health sector, Kejriwal said he has not encountered anyone who had received treatment under Ayushman Bharat. He says these things are part of a larger discourse on the incompetence of the central government concerning healthcare policies and advocating for better and more efficient means to administer healthcare. Such tense dialogue was also expressed by leaders of the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization when it became clear that public health policy remains politically charged, and both sides are trying to control and dominate vital services.
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