New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has claimed that the latest report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) validates Delhiโs healthcare model as the most effective in the country under its leadership. During a discussion in the Delhi Assembly, AAP leaders, including Gopal Rai, Sanjeev Jha, and Ajay Dutt, credited the success of initiatives like Mohalla Clinics while accusing the BJP-led central government of obstructing staff recruitment in Delhiโs medical institutions.
AAP Hails CAG Report, Criticizes Recruitment Hurdles
AAP legislator Gopal Rai stated that the CAG report acknowledges the improvements in Delhiโs public healthcare infrastructure, attributing this progress to the policies of the state government. Despite administrative limitations, he said, the AAP government expanded hospitals and pioneered Mohalla Clinics, a community-based healthcare model. However, he alleged that the central government used an ordinance to strip Delhiโs elected administration of recruitment authority, leading to acute staff shortages in hospitals.
โThe Supreme Court had ruled that all governance powersโexcept in matters of land, law enforcement, and securityโrest with the elected Delhi government. Yet, the BJP-led Centre bypassed this ruling through an ordinance and passed a law preventing Delhi from hiring medical personnel,โ Rai asserted. He further claimed that repeated recruitment proposals were sent to the Centre but were deliberately stalled by central authorities and the Lieutenant Governorโs office.
BJP Criticized for Healthcare Management
AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha accused the BJP of misgovernance, noting that while Delhiโs CAG report was under scrutiny in the Assembly, Gujarat had failed to present one for the past four years. He argued that Delhiโs healthcare sector met 22 out of 24 key health indicatorsโan achievement he claimed no other state could match. He also accused BJP leaders of spreading misinformation by denying the existence of Mohalla Clinics, despite the CAG report confirming that 552 such facilities were operational.
Ajay Dutt echoed these concerns, asserting that BJP-led states struggled to manage healthcare effectively, especially during the COVID-19 crisis. He accused the central government of deliberately stalling Delhiโs healthcare advancements by withholding funds and blocking medical staff appointments.
BJP Maintains Silence Amid Growing Political Row
While AAP continues to blame the Centre for Delhiโs healthcare challenges, the BJP has yet to issue an official response. However, sources within the party defended the Centre, arguing that healthcare administration requires better efficiency at the state level. They suggested that instead of shifting blame, the AAP government should focus on addressing gaps highlighted in the CAG report.
With the political battle over Delhiโs healthcare policies heating up, AAP leaders have demanded a response from Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on whether her administration will resolve the issues flagged in the CAG report within six months. As the debate escalates, governance experts predict that staffing and healthcare management in Delhi could emerge as a major political flashpoint in the near future.
