Harsh Vardhan slams govt, says mohalla clinics a scam

New Delhi: Union minister and Lok Sabha member from the city, Dr Harsh Vardhan, on Friday attacked the Delhi government over its mohalla clinic project, calling it a “scam” after the vigilance department sought details on complaints of alleged irregularities in it. Referring to media reports, Lok Sabha member from Chandni Chowk Dr Vardhan, himself a doctor, said that the initiative could have been one which Delhi could be proud of. He alleged that doctors in mohalla clinics made false entries of patients to ensure good income.

Taking a jibe at the Arvind Kejriwal dispensation, Dr Vardhan said treating two patients in a minute is truly record breaking. “Treating one patient in a minute is impressive, but to treat two is truly record breaking. Mohalla Clinics, a scam! Doctors in AAP government-run mohalla clinics make false entries of patients, giving them useless medication to ens-ure revisits, and their inc-ome. Mohalla clinic was one initiative Delhi coul-d’ve been proud of, but alas — these greedy frauds couldn’t stay fair even in healthcare services (sic),” said Dr Vardhan in a series of tweets.

His comments assume significance as Dr Vardhan, a former Delhi BJP president, prefers not to say much on the city politics after he became a minister in the Union Cabinet. Delhi heath minister Satyendar Jain on Friday said that mohalla clinics are working fine and alleged that the Opposition parties are blowing the issue out of proportion. Earlier, in response to the alleged irregularities in the functioning of mohalla clinics, Mr Jain had retweeted a news clipping on “ghost employees receiving NDMC pension”.

The Delhi government’s health department officials, meanwhile, are conducting surprise inspections on mohalla clinics after reports of irregularities, an official said. Chief district medical officer (northeast Delhi) on Thu-rsday sent a team to various clinics the area to figure out how many patients are visiting these primary healthcare centres each day. The team of medical officers also took stalk of medicines and diagnostic tests provided by these facilities.

The vigilance department early this week sought details from the chief district medical officers on the functioning of mohalla clinics, following complaints on issues like amount of money being paid to the consultant doctors and rent for a few of the clinics. The mohalla clinic project is aimed at providing free health-care facility to the city residents closer to their home.