The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led Delhi government has announced plans to provide 450 types of medical tests free of cost from January 1, 2023. Currently, the number of medical tests provided free of cost is 212, officials said.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal gave a nod to make 238 more tests free of cost, taking the total count to 450. This facility will be available at city hospitals and Mohalla Clinics.
"Providing good quality health and education to all, irrespective of anyone’s economic status, is our mission. Healthcare has become v expensive. Many people can’t afford pvt healthcare. This step will help all such people," Kejriwal tweeted.
The tests which are provided free of cost in Delhi hospitals are haemoglobin test, stool routine, kidney function test, liver function test, lipid profile, blood glucose random test, etc.
At present, a total of 39 hospitals, 201 dispensaries, 31 polyclinics and 520 mohalla clinics function under the Delhi government.
"1.04 lakh people who got tests such as MRI and PET scan under the scheme in 2021": Report
The Delhi government's free medical test initiative is immensely popular. As per a news report, there were 1.04 lakh people who got tests such as MRI and PET scan under the scheme in 2021, which was an increase from 56,700 persons in 2020 and 78,800 in 2019.
In the year 2017, when this scheme was launched for the first time over 52,000 people had availed the scheme. The number of takers had increased by more than 10,000 in 2018.
Patients who would have gone to say Safdarjung or RML hospital come to us because they know that they can get even expensive scans for free,” media reports quoted a senior administrator from Lok Nayak, Delhi government’s biggest hospital.
