Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal has branded the Ayushman Bharat scheme as a “major scam,” backed by the findings of a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report, pointing out serious discrepancies against the BJP government’s scheme. The AAP Supremo asserted that this is not merely his opinion, as the CAG report points to corruption within the scheme.
Arvind Kejriwal urged the Prime Minister to study Delhi’s healthcare model, which offers free treatment worth up to 1 crore and medicines starting at just 5 rupees without any admission conditions, and implement it nationwide.
Citing a CAG report’s finding, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal stated that the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) itself has reported multiple scams within the Ayushman Bharat scheme. The Ayushman scheme offers coverage up to Rs 5 lakh but only if you are hospitalized. In contrast, Delhi’s healthcare model ensures free treatment for all, whether for OPD or IPD services.
The AAP Supremo asserted, “Every resident of Delhi, whether they have a simple cold or need hospitalization, receives all treatment, medication, and tests free of charge—no limits, no caps. In Delhi, whether it’s a five-rupee tablet or a treatment costing 50 lakh or even one crore rupees, everything is provided free of charge.”
Arvind Kejriwal called for an end to the segregating practices as central and state healthcare schemes, emphasizing that effective models should be scaled up. “Yesterday, I requested the Prime Minister to study Delhi’s healthcare model and consider implementing it across the nation. It’s not about whose scheme it is; it’s about ensuring quality healthcare for every citizen,” he stated.
Reiterating the unique benefits of Delhi’s healthcare system, the AAP Chief pointed out that no citizen is left to struggle with healthcare costs under the current model. “In Delhi, if someone requires surgery costing twenty lakh rupees, we cover it fully. If someone visits a Mohalla Clinic, their entire treatment is free. How can we even think of stopping such a system that brings affordable, effective healthcare to everyone?”
Meanwhile, AAP’s Chief Spokesperson (National) Priyanka Kakkar held a press conference addressing Prime Minister Modi’s recent statements, calling them misleading. She said, “Health is a very important issue for the AAP. Arvind Kejriwal’s government in Delhi has presented a health model so effective that even Kofi Annan, the former UN Secretary-General, praised it. Meanwhile, PM Modi has introduced a scam-ridden scheme called Ayushman Bharat, which the CAG has also called out for its fraud.”
The Chief AAP Spokesperson (National) highlighted that the Ayushman Bharat scheme is deeply flawed, stating, “Nearly 26,000 hospitals have been empanelled, of which around 7,000 exist only on paper. Additionally, 4,000 hospitals have not admitted a single patient under this scheme. Hospitals that did admit poor patients have now backed out because the PM Modi-led BJP government hasn’t paid them their dues.”
She continued, explaining that the Indian Medical Association of Haryana raised this issue, informing the central government on February 29 that they would no longer admit patients under Ayushman Bharat if their dues remained unpaid. The final line of their letter reads, “All pending payments must be cleared; otherwise, Ayushman cards will not be honored from March 16, 2024.”
She noted, “This is the reality of Ayushman Bharat. The Modi government has reduced the allocated budget for this scheme, limiting its benefits to the people. In contrast, over 50% of patients in Delhi government hospitals come from neighboring states like Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.”
Priyanka Kakkar further stated that if Ayushman Bharat were truly effective, patients wouldn’t need to come to Delhi. “We welcome them because, for us, healthcare is a priority, and Arvind Kejriwal has consistently worked on it, dedicating 16% of Delhi’s budget to health,” she added. “Nationally, the PM Modi government’s allocation for health under the National Health Mission is only around 2.9% of the budget, which isn’t enough.”
The Ayushman Bharat scheme only covers families with an income below Rs. 10,000 per month, whereas Delhi’s health scheme has no such restrictions. Regardless of income, whether it’s Rs. 1 or Rs. 10 crores, the Delhi government covers all treatment costs for everyone.
Priyanka Kakkar further explained that Ayushman Bharat provides a total insurance coverage of only Rs. 5 lakhs per family, while Delhi’s health scheme covers any expense, whether it’s a Rs. 5 medicine or a surgery costing Rs. 1 crore. She said, “Under Ayushman Bharat, if you have a refrigerator, TV, mobile phone, or scooter at home, you are excluded from the benefits. Delhi’s scheme, on the other hand, covers everyone regardless of such possessions.”
She noted that, under Ayushman Bharat, hospitalization is mandatory for coverage. “Imagine a daily wage worker earning Rs. 300 per day who suffers an injury that only requires stitches,” she explained. “Ayushman Bharat wouldn’t cover such cases. In contrast, Delhi’s scheme has no such restrictions—7.5 crore OPD visits have been recorded over the past eight years in Mohalla Clinics, where 359 medicines and 450 tests are provided free of charge.”
She said, “PM Modi should study how Arvind Kejriwal made healthcare accessible, providing free medicines, treatments, and surgeries for all. PM Modi and the BJP have tried to undermine our health model by arresting Satyendar Jain and disrupting our services, but we will not allow Delhi’s healthcare to fall under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. Healthcare in Delhi will always be free and of the highest quality.”
Priyanka Kakkar criticized the Modi government’s recent scheme for senior citizens, calling it a mere media gimmick. “The ground reality, as highlighted by the CAG and hospitals, is that budget cuts prevent benefits from reaching the people. They imposed a condition that only one scheme can operate—either theirs or ours. Our scheme includes the ‘Farishte Scheme,’ which has benefited over 27,000 people. We provide a more comprehensive plan with OPD services—unlike Ayushman Bharat—and PM Modi should consider implementing it nationwide,” she said.
She concluded by saying, “PM Modi and the BJP continually attempt to dismantle our health model, but if they stopped interfering, we could have opened 1,500 Mohalla Clinics in Delhi instead of the 530 currently running. PM Modi should take inspiration from our achievements and establish 5,000 clinics nationwide instead of undermining our progress in Delhi.”
