Goa Khabar : On the issue of healthcare for the people of Goa, the Aam Aadmi Party has thrown an open challenge to BJP government’s Health Minister Vishwajit Rane for a public debate. AAP Goa President Valmiki Naik and Senior Vice President Sandesh Teliekar-Desai addressed a press conference at the party office today, sharply criticising the BJP government’s healthcare model and targeting Health Minister Vishwajit Rane.
Speaking at the press conference, AAP Goa President Valmiki Naik said, “Today, nearly 32 clinics are being run across Goa through the Aam Aadmi Party. In contrast, BJP’s so-called health model exists only on social media. On one hand, under the government’s DDSSY scheme, even basic surgeries like cataract operations are not included. On the other hand, AAP MLAs Capt. Venzy Viegas and Eng. Cruz Silva have each started two clinics in their respective constituencies and are facilitating free cataract surgeries at their own expense for citizens.”
He further said that AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal recently visited Goa to promote and explain AAP’s healthcare model. During this visit, the party organised Town Hall meeting, enabling direct interaction with Goans. “Through our townhalls, people expressed their frustration with the BJP’s failed public healthcare system. After being shown a mirror by the people themselves, the BJP Govt is on an overdrive to counter the impact of Kejriwal’s presence in Goa, by launching social media campaigns and making knee-jerk announcements like a Medical College in Pernem. If BJP is being forced to act out of fear of Arvind Kejriwal, we will bring Arvind Kejriwal to Goa again and again—so that the people of Goa finally get quality healthcare,” Naik said.
Naik accused the BJP government of focusing only on marketing and events instead of real healthcare delivery. “Under pressure from the people of Tuem, the government hurriedly organised a programme merely for optics. In reality, there is no proper machinery, no scanning facilities—only an OPD was started. Such a massive event was organised just to inaugurate an OPD. Meanwhile, we have started such services without even being in power,” he added.
Senior Vice President Sandesh Teliekar-Desai launched a strong attack on Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, saying: “After working hard for whole life and paying taxes to government if a common man has to beg infront of a politicians for treatment it is utterly shameful. If the Health Minister himself says on camera that people call him personally for help to get treatment at GMC, it is shameful. This clearly means that without political intervention, patients do not get treatment at GMC.”
Further Sr VP Sandesh added that “In an interview to a news channel the health minister referred to Goa Mediclaim Scheme and boasted the procudures covered under it. In reality an individual need to have an income of less than 1.5 lakh to avail it. This puts 90% of Goans out of it. What is the point of such schemes?”
