Congress leader Ashok Gehlot criticized the Rajasthan government’s position on the Right to Health Act, denouncing Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khinvsar’s statement in the Assembly as insensitive. Gehlot expressed disappointment over the minister’s comment that the Act was unnecessary, stating that it added to the financial burden on families struggling with escalating medical costs.
Gehlot highlighted the Congress government’s initiative in introducing the Right to Health Act to ensure that no individual is denied critical medical care in emergency situations. He emphasized the importance of such legislation, especially in light of existing universal healthcare schemes like ‘Chiranjeevi Yojana’ and ‘Nirogi Rajasthan Yojana’. Gehlot accused the current BJP administration of neglecting to implement the Act effectively and criticized their alleged alignment with the medical industry’s interests.
The issue surrounding the Right to Health Act sparked a heated debate in the Rajasthan Assembly, with Congress MLA Harimohan Sharma seeking clarification on the status of the Act’s rules. In response, Health Minister Khinvsar suggested that the Act was introduced by the Congress solely for electoral purposes, dismissing its necessity. The Opposition and Congress leaders pressed the government for a clear stance on the Act’s implementation, questioning its commitment to public health protection. The ensuing chaos led to Congress members protesting in the Assembly, prompting Speaker Vasudev Devnani to issue warnings of adjournment if disruptions persisted.
