Health services crashed in Punjab; big reforms are needed: Harpal Singh Cheema

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) senior leader and Leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema said that public health services are completely crashed in the state and anti-people and anti-Punjab policies of Akali-Congress governments has broken the backbone of every public sector. He added that every public sector is in dire need of reform but health sector of Punjab needs an immediate attention. Cheema said that Congress, BJP and Akali governments introduced some scheme for public health but their focus was not the health of public, but to benefit a handful of people by swindling tax payers’ money.

Harpal Cheema pointed out the failure of Ayushman Bharat Scheme at the ground level and said that this scheme has turned into a scam where a large amount of tax payers’ money is going to private insurance companies and private hospitals. He said at present it a well thought out scheme to loot public money and fill coffers of private hospital owners, insurance companies and corrupt politicians.

Harpal Singh Cheema said that every year government allot 4,000 crores of rupees to private insurance companies and then private hospitals loot that money with over-prescription, over-testing, over-admission, over-treatment etc. AAP leader said, “Now imagine 4,000 crores of rupees being spent yearly to improve public health sector and government hospitals.” He added that anti-people and pro-capitalist governments twist such schemes to fill their own pockets with public money at the expense of public health.

Harpal Cheema added that 90% of patients are treated in OPD and they can’t access this scheme. That means government is spending such large amount only for 10-15% patients and there too it was observed in many cases that private hospitals charge patients as well as insurance company through this scheme. Harpal Cheema said that it is very unfortunate a scheme that was introduced to improve the public health sector making it shoddier. He said that there should be strict punishments for defaulter private hospitals.

Harpal Cheema added that with the formation of Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab, public health sector will be rejuvenated, reformed and developed so that public money can be actually utilized to facilitate public instead of putting it in the pockets of handful of people. He added that AAP government will take strict action against officers, corrupt leaders and private hospitals who swindled public money. He assured that when corruption is eradicated from public sector all such schemes will only benefit the common people like they are supposed to do.