NEW DELHI: Eyeing the upcoming assembly polls in the capital, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal promised to provide free treatment to all Delhi residents aged above 60 years at both state-run and private health facilities if re-elected in polls due in Feb next year.
Announcing the proposed ‘Sanjeevani’ scheme at a press conference, Kejriwal said AAP volunteers would start visiting every household within two-three weeks to complete the “registration” and provide every eligible person with a card. “Keep the card issued by AAP volunteers safe. The scheme will be approved as soon as AAP forms the govt after the elections,” Kejriwal said.
The AB PM-JAY provides free health insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh, regardless of the beneficiary’s income. Delhi and West Bengal are the only two states in the country that have not implemented the AB PM-JAY scheme so far.
After the Delhi HC issued a notice to the Delhi govt regarding implementation of the Ayushman Bharat scheme last month, CM Atishi said that her govt was ready to implement it, but there were contradictions between the facilities offered by the GNCTD and those under Ayushman Bharat. She added that the health department was directed to devise a mechanism to incorporate the benefits of the Ayushman Bharat scheme without withdrawing the benefits of the Delhi govt’s free healthcare facilities for the people.
Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal said the biggest issue that troubles every elderly person as they age is the rising cost of treatment. He added that there would be no other criteria to be eligible for the Sanjeevani scheme except a valid voter I-card of Delhi. “Whether you wish to get treated in a govt hospital or a private hospital, the entire cost of your treatment will be covered by the Delhi govt,” Kejriwal announced. “There will be no restrictions based on income. Everyone’s treatment, whether rich or poor, will be provided free of cost. There will be no upper limit on the expenses,” he said.
AAP said that over 25 lakh senior citizens were likely to benefit from the scheme, which will not have any income or socio-economic restrictions, and health cards would be issued without any discrimination. When asked, govt sources said no calculations of the estimated expenditure on the scheme were done so far. “A proper policy will be made, and the modalities will be worked out in due course of time,” said a source.
