Ahead of Delhi’s upcoming assembly elections in February, Arvind Kejriwal, the national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), announced a new health initiative for senior citizens. Under the “Sanjeevani Yojana,” elderly residents above the age of 60 will receive free medical treatment at both government and private hospitals in Delhi. This move comes as part of AAP’s continued push to enhance healthcare access for the city’s residents, especially its senior citizens.
There will be no upper limit on the cost of treatment. Registration for this will start in a day or two… AAP workers will come to your home for registration. They will give you a card, keep it safe. Once we come into power after the elections, this policy will be implemented,” ANI quoted the former Delhi chief minister as saying.
Kejriwal’s announcement follows ongoing tensions between the ruling AAP and the opposition BJP over the implementation of the central government’s Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY). BJP MPs, including Harsh Malhotra, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, and Manoj Tiwari, have been vocal in their criticism, arguing that the Delhi government’s failure to implement PMJAY has led to high out-of-pocket expenses for citizens seeking medical treatment. In response, they filed a petition in the Delhi High Court, seeking directions for the Delhi government to implement the scheme.
On November 27, the Delhi High Court intervened, asking the Delhi government to clarify its position on the implementation of PMJAY. The court noted that steps must be taken to resolve the ongoing differences within the administration. In response to these concerns, Delhi’s Chief Minister Atishi instructed the health department to explore a way to integrate the benefits of Ayushman Bharat while maintaining the Delhi government’s own free healthcare programs.
Kejriwal’s Sanjeevani Yojana, by offering free medical treatment for senior citizens in both public and private hospitals, aims to address the healthcare needs of the elderly while countering opposition allegations. This initiative also serves to position AAP as a party committed to expanding and improving healthcare access for vulnerable populations, amidst the ongoing political battle over healthcare policy in Delhi.
