Delhi patients to get free surgeries in 48 private hospitals if waiting in govt ones long: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday launched a scheme called ‘Free Surgery Scheme’ under which if patients do not get a date for surgery at a government hospital within a month, then the AAP government would bear the expenses and treat them in private ones.

There are 52 types of specified surgeries under this scheme which include kidney stone surgery, heart by-pass and laparoscopic gall bladder surgery.

Launching the scheme at Talkatora Stadium, the Delhi CM said that the AAP is now running two schemes. One pertains to free medicines at government hospitals and the other one is free surgeries at private hospitals.

“Our government has already started two schemes. One pertains to free medicines at government’s hospitals, while the second one offers free test at private laboratories,” Kejriwal said.

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48 NABH-accredited private hospitals in Delhi-NCR will take care of such cases. The prominent ones include Rockland Hospital, Batra Hospital and Moolchand Hospital in South Delhi.

The AAP government is taking revolutionary steps in the education and health sectors, Kejriwal said while launching the scheme. The government will ensure that there is no shortage of funds for these schemes, he added.

Lok Nayak Hospital, GTB, Ambedkar Hospital, GB Pant, DDU, Guru Nanak Eye Centre are among the 24 hospitals from where patients can be referred to private medical facilities.

It is to be noted that, the government hasn’t put any income restriction to undergo free surgery. But to avail this scheme, a patient need to be a bonafide resident of Delhi.

There will not be just free surgeries but the patient will also get a chance to select a private hospital.

With PTI inputs.

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