Don’t rename wellness centres as Aam Aadmi Clinics, Mandaviya tells Pb

BATHINDA: Union health and family welfare minister Mansukh Mandaviya has again cautioned the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government that there should not be any politics involving Ayushman Bharat-health and wellness centres by changing its name and logo as per its choice. The Union ministry has written to Punjab health minister to do the needful as per the spirit of the wellness centres or harsh measures could be taken. Mansukh Mandaviya was addressing the media persons at the residence of Punjab BJP leader Kewal Singh Dhillon at Barnala on the completion of 9 years of Narendra Modi government.

During the event, he said in Punjab the wellness centres have been rechristened as Aam Aadmi Clinics, which is against the spirit of scheme.

He said the Centre is working hard in taking medical education forward as medical colleges have been increased to 650 from 350. “And during this period the MBBS seats have been doubled from 54000 to 108000. The PG seats have been increased to 65,000 while Rs 100 crore is being spent in every district medical college and other medical facilities,” the minister said.

Speaking about Covid19, he said that the world duly appreciated India’s Covid management and termed the vaccine delivery system as the best in the world. “The country administered 220 crore Covid vaccines in shortest possible time, which the world was terming impossible. The country spent Rs 47,000 crore on vaccines and going by it, when I went to Davos to attend the World Economic Forum meeting, world leaders and even Bill Gates congratulated me,” Mandaviya said.

Mansukh Mandaviya, who also holds the portfolio of chemical and fertiliser ministry, said that no prices of Urea or DAP will be increased even if these increase in international market as was witnessed during Covid time. The country will bear the extra burden, if any, but will not cut the subsidy bill, he said. On a question by TOI, the Union minister declined about any change in fertiliser subsidy mechanism, saying no mechanism is being changed and we have proposed subsidy bill of Rs 1.25 lakh crore for Kharif and then proposal for rabi will also be prepared. On being asked about reports of subsidy bill being decreased from Rs 2.25 lakh crore to 1.75 lakh crore, he said subsidised fertilisers will be provided to everyone.