Rebel AAP MLA Alka Lamba claimed in the Delhi Assembly on Friday that patients in city government hospitals are not getting free medicines, prompting Health Minister Satyendar Jain to assure that he would initiate an inquiry into the matter.
Ms. Lamba was later marshalled out of the House till tea break for interrupting discussions during the second day of the monsoon session.
“What happened to the promise of 1,000 Mohalla Clinics? They said it could not be built as the government does not have land. But yesterday [Thursday], Mr. Kejriwal [Chief Minister] said he would give 100 acres of land to the Centre for the temple. Then why no land for Mohalla Clinics or schools?” the AAP MLA said.
On the issue of free medicines, the MLA said: “For heart operation of an 11-month-old baby at G.B. Pant Hospital, a family was asked to buy medicines from outside. The parents are labourers and are in debt. The government says it provides free medicine and treatment but it is not happening.” She said the government’s advertisements and ground reality are different. “Hope there will be inquiry and the report will be tabled in the Assembly,” she said.
To this, Speaker Ram Niwas Goel said: “People were getting medicines for four-and-a-half years and now they are not?”
In response to the allegations, Mr. Jain said: “People should 100% get free medicines. Will check whether the same medicines [suggested by the hospital] were bought [from outside]. In G.B. Pant, about 80% of people are not from Delhi and hence some buy medicine from outside to avoid long queues.”
