Kejriwal promises free healthcare in govt hospitals in Punjab

After vowing 300 units of free electricity to all domestic consumers, AAP convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday made another poll promise of free healthcare services to all in Punjab.

Addressing mediapersons, Kejriwal said if AAP came to power, every person in the state would get a health card, which would contain his/her entire medical record, and access to best healthcare services, including free medicines, tests and operations. Besides the revamp of government hospitals, 16,000 ‘pind’ clinics in villages and ward clinics in cities would be set up on the lines of mohalla clinics of Delhi.

He said the health infrastructure in Punjab was in a shambles due to inadequate number of doctors and nurses, insufficient medicines and non-operational machines, forcing patients to visit private hospitals, which charged exorbitantly.

Kejriwal said: “Seven years ago, health services in Delhi, too, were in a same condition. But, we are now giving free and best treatment in Delhi. Costliest medicines and injections are free. We will change the face of health services in Punjab also.

“Road accident victims will be provided free treatment. Even if a surgery costs Rs 20 lakh, it will be done for free at government hospitals. We will ramp up infrastructure in the government hospitals and set up new ones on a grand scale.”

On being asked about the financial burden of extending the free health facilities, Kejriwal said: “We turned a deficit budget into one of profit within four years in Delhi. Money is wasted when there is corruption. We wiped out corruption and everything else followed.” Tribune India