Mohalla clinics a scam: Harsh Vardhan

New Delhi, Feb 24 (PTI) Union minister Harsh Vardhan today 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.

Citing media reports, Vardhan, himself a medico, said the initiative could have been one which Delhi could be proud of, but alleged that doctors in mohalla clinics made “false entries” of patients to ensure “good income”.

Taking a jibe at the Kejriwal dispensation, 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 govt run Mohalla Clinics make false entries of patients, giving them useless medication to ensure revisits, and their income.

“Mohalla Clinic was one initiative Delhi could’ve been proud of, but alas- these greedy frauds couldn’t stay fair even in healthcare services (sic),” the Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences said in a series of tweets.

His comments assume significance as Vardhan, a senior Delhi BJP leader, prefers not to say much on the city politics after he became a minister in the Union cabinet.

Ahead of the MCD polls, the Minister also attended a meeting of senior state BJP leader early this week.

Vardhan was also the chief ministerial candidate of the BJP in 2013 Delhi Assembly polls but his party could not muster numbers to form the government. In 2014, he was elected to Lok Sabha from the Chandani Chowk constituency.

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.