Affordable modern facilities at all hospitals top priority: Arti Rao

With Arti Singh Rao, 45, appointed as Haryana’’s new Health Minister, residents of the Ahirwal region, especially from Rewari and Mahendragarh districts, are hopeful for significant improvements in government healthcare services. In these districts, patients often rely on private hospitals for essential tests like MRI due to a lack of facilities in public hospitals.

There are also rising expectations for expedited progress on the long-awaited AIIMS project in Majra village. This project, first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019, had its foundation stone laid in February 2024. Arti, daughter of Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh and MLA from Ateli (Mahendragarh), now holds the portfolios of Health, Ayush, and Medical Health and Research. Her father played a key role in bringing the AIIMS project to Rewari.

“There is no MRI facility in government hospitals in Rewari, forcing patients to pay hefty fees at private hospitals. We are hopeful that Arti will ensure the provision of all basic healthcare facilities in government hospitals, not only in Ahirwal but across the state,” said local resident Parveen Kumar.

Subhash, from Narnaul in Mahendragarh, echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the strain on patients due to inadequate services. “Critical cases are often referred to higher institutes outside the district, pushing many to seek care in private hospitals where costs are steep. We hope Arti will ensure that government hospitals are fully equipped to prevent this,” he added.

Residents of Rewari are also eager for Arti to help fast-track the AIIMS project. “Though the project is under the Central Government, we believe Arti, being a health minister and local resident, will help expedite formalities at the state level for faster execution. We plan to submit a memorandum to her soon,” said Rajendra Nimoth, spokesperson for the AIIMS Sangharsh Samiti, which has been campaigning for the project’s swift completion. The group has also requested that OPD services under the AIIMS name be launched in the district before the project’’s completion.

Arti Singh Rao, while talking to The Tribune, confirmed that her top priority is to equip government hospitals with modern healthcare facilities. “Our primary health centres (PHCs) and community health centres (CHCs) will be fully staffed with doctors. My focus is on providing ultramodern facilities in government hospitals at affordable prices,” she said.

On being asked about the AIIMS project, she said it is crucial and will bring advanced medical services and specialist care to the region.