With mohalla clinics and better hospitals, won't need Ayushman Bharat Yojana: Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann

CHANDIGARH: Amid the controversy over PGIMER Chandigarh stopping treatment of patients under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana over non-payment of dues by Punjab government, chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday claimed that patients in the state would no longer need the scheme by next year when the state's own health infrastructure would have improved and treatment provided to all sections.
"The pending dues of PGI under Ayushman have been cleared and the scheme has been resumed. When Punjab begins treatment on its own, we will no longer need the scheme. Look at Delhi and Bengal where treatment is free for all. Under this scheme, only a particular section is being catered to but in a year's time, mohalla clinics will be made functional and health infrastructure in hospitals will be improved," said Mann.
Apart from PGI, some other health institutions too had stopped treatment under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana. The AAP government had, meanwhile, claimed that there were reports of alleged fake bills from some private hospitals and the matter was being investigated.
Treatment under the health insurance scheme for patients hailing from the state was stopped by PGI, Chandigarh last week as Punjab failed to clear dues of seven months amounting to Rs 16 crore.
AAP spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang added that the idea was to make Punjab self-sufficient in health infrastructure and the AAP government in Delhi had already shown the way in this.