Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal has been conducting on-the-spot inspections of Delhi’s healthcare facilities, raising questions about the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s claims of delivering “world-class healthcare.”
These visits come after her acrimonious departure from the AAP and her filing of an assault case against Arvind Kejriwal’s aide Bibhav Kumar. Maliwal’s inspections have focused on understanding ground realities and highlighting gaps in the system.
At the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), a premier mental health facility, Maliwal expressed concerns about patients queuing overnight for medicines. She noted that many patients were not receiving their full prescriptions and lacked basic amenities like adequate shelters, clean washrooms, and drinking water.
Speaking about the plight of patients, she remarked, “There should be dignity for those who are ill. Making them wait all night is shameful. Also, despite the government’s claims of world-class infrastructure, people are not receiving medicines.”
IHBAS Director Rajinder Dhamija countered these claims, stating that over 90 per cent of medicines are available and that shelters and other facilities are in place. He added that the Chief Minister personally monitors medicine distribution.
Maliwal also visited Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital, where patients complained about a lack of essential medicines and delayed diagnostic tests.
Kulsoom, a patient with breathing problems, told her, “The doctors have only been giving paracetamol. No other medicines are available.” Mohammad Danish highlighted similar issues, saying, “These [medicines] are being provided, but not the full prescription.”
Beyond healthcare, Maliwal has been touring various parts of Delhi to document civic issues, including broken roads, waterlogging, and erratic water supply. Videos of these visits, shared on her social media platforms, show residents voicing grievances.
At Palam, residents reported receiving inflated water bills despite no water supply, while in Govindpuri and Kirari, complaints included poor road conditions and persistent waterlogging.
“The Delhi government needs to address the condition of the roads, streetlights, buses, and shelters. The situation is horrible,” Maliwal said. She questioned why these issues are not being resolved immediately, adding, “If I can come to talk to people about their grievances, why can’t they?”
The AAP has accused Maliwal of acting at the BJP’s behest, a claim she dismissed. “I am an MP of Delhi, and it’s my duty to be on the ground and help people. Are the people sitting outside these hospitals also brought by the BJP?” she retorted.
link