Delhi waives user charges at govt hospitals from February 1

The Delhi government on Sunday said it has decided to waive user charges at all government hospitals from February 1 and would make available medicines and diagnostic tests free of cost, using the money “saved” from three flyover projects.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced this at the inauguration of an elevated corridor between Mangolpuri and Madhuban Chowk at the Outer Ring Road, which he said was built at Rs 300 crore, “well below the sanctioned cost of Rs 450 crore”. He also thanked former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit for commissioning the project.

Kejriwal said the decision to provide the services for free was made possible due to the efficiency of the city’s Public Works Department (PWD), headed by Home Minister Satyender Jain, which he claimed “has saved Rs 350 crore” in construction of the three flyovers.

“Jain and I had estimated that if we want to provide facilities such as x-ray, ultrasound, blood tests and medicines for free in government hospitals we would have to set aside around Rs 350 crore. The money saved in building the elevated corridors will be used for this purpose which is your right,” Kejriwal said. The Delhi government runs around 38 hospitals.

Hailing the “wondrous feat” of PWD engineers, the CM listed constructions of the Azadpur-Prembari Pul elevated corridor, Mangolpuri to Madhuban Chowk and the soon-to-be launched Mukarba-Madhuban chowk corridors, which he said were built under their sactioned costs. “No user charges in Delhi govt hospitals from Feb 1. All medicines prescribed by hospital docs to be provided free. Total Rs 350 cr saved in construction of 3 flyovers by PWD. This money to be used in providing free medicines and tests in all Delhi govt hospitals,” he tweeted.