New Delhi Oct 3 (UNI) The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday alleged that Delhi’s government hospitals are facing an unprecedented shortage of medicines, surgical equipment, gloves and other essentials, accusing the BJP-led administration of deliberately weakening public healthcare to benefit private hospitals.
Addressing a press conference, AAP Delhi unit president and former Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed that in the past eight months, the condition of government hospitals in the capital has worsened significantly. “Essential items like medicines, surgical equipment, gloves and implants are not available, forcing patients to purchase them from outside. Earlier, under the Kejriwal government, medicines and diagnostic tests were free of cost in government hospitals,” he said.
Bharadwaj also alleged that the annual budget of the Delhi Arogya Kosh has been reduced to zero, leading to the suspension of schemes such as the Farishtey Yojana. He further claimed that superintendents have been barred from making local purchases of medicines, affecting Mohalla Clinics, Arogya Mandirs and dispensaries.
Senior AAP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia echoed these concerns, stating on social media that people in Delhi are struggling for basic facilities like medicines, stretchers and gloves, unlike during the previous government’s tenure when hospitals were better equipped.
AAP leaders accused the BJP-led government of intentionally choking public health services to push people towards private hospitals. They also claimed that even central government-run institutions such as Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital are facing similar challenges.
The BJP has not yet responded to the allegations.
