Chandigarh, December 12: The claims of the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP Government that more than 80 lakh patients have benefited from 664 Aam Aadmi Clinics (AAC) across the state so far belie the reality on the ground. Advising Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to be more transparent and objective in government functioning, BJP National Spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill has said that Mann is misleading the people of Punjab by quoting “inflated figures”, only to justify his failed “AAC Model”. 

 Substantiating his claims in a statement issued today, Shergill said that ‘fake OPD Registration’ was being done at several AACs, which was highlighted by the media recently and even a probe was also initiated by the Patiala Deputy Commissioner in this regard. He added that the findings of the probe found several shortcomings in seven AACs of Patiala regarding the footfall of patients but all of them were let off by issuing a ‘mere warning’.

“As per media reports, authorities had instructed these AACs that patients, who had come to collect their lab reports, should not be enrolled as fresh patients, besides ensuring that entry of patients should be done online and not offline”, he said, adding, “But reports from the ground indicate that there are several AACs, wherein even the follow-up patients are still being enrolled as new patients so that the total number of patients visiting AACs can go up drastically and hence a thorough probe into the matter is required.”

“Since the present AAP dispensation in Punjab is befooling the masses by making false claims on every issue, I strongly demand that a thorough investigation should be ordered to ascertain the genuine number of patients visiting all the 664 AACs in the state, so that truth can come out before the people of Punjab”, he demanded, while daring Bhagwant Mann to order a probe in this regard immediately”, said Shergill.

Shergill further said that apart from “inflating” the patient figures at the AACs, the government's claims of bringing revolutionary changes in the health sector is one of the “biggest lies” and a “cruel joke” with Punjabis. Expressing his anguish, he said that the AAP government has destroyed the health infrastructure of Punjab, just to sell their faulty and fake ‘Delhi Health Model of Mohalla Clinics’. “Instead of opening another 100 AACs, as announced by CM, the government should lay focus on strengthening and upgrading the existing healthcare facilities, particularly the rural dispensaries”, he said, adding that the government has wasted crores of rupees just to convert Sanjh Kendras and rebranding Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres into ACCs.”

BJP leader stated that there is a shortage of doctors, medical equipment and medicines in the government hospitals and rural dispensaries across the state. “What is shocking and shameful is that even though the union government had provided grants to the tune of Rs 11000 crore to various departments of the AAP government in Punjab, the government has miserably failed to utilize Rs 8000 crores till now”, said Shergill. He demanded that before the grant gets lapsed, as the current financial year will end in less than four months, the government must utlise it and ensure that enough funds are provided to the rural dispensaries, catering to 60 per cent of people residing in rural areas, by providing them requisite medicines and other necessary infrastructure.