Medicine shortage: BJP MP calls for Saurabh Bharadwaj’s resignation

Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, BJP MP from South Delhi, has called for the resignation of Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj after the latter admitted to being unaware of the long-standing shortage of medicines in government hospitals, dispensaries and mohalla clinics.

Addressing mediapersons, Bidhuri criticised Bharadwaj for his failure to address the crisis, which has reportedly persisted since January 2024. “The Health Minister himself has accepted his failure. The shortage of medicines has been ongoing for months, and yet he claims of not being aware of it. A minister who is so disconnected from the reality in his own department has no right to remain in office,” Bidhuri said.

The BJP leader accused Bhardwaj and the AAP leadership of deflecting blame rather than accepting responsibility for their failures. “From Arvind Kejriwal to Atishi and the rest of the AAP ministers, all have constantly followed the policy of blaming others for their inefficiency. When there’s a water crisis, they blame neighbouring states. When pollution levels rise in Delhi, they shift the blame elsewhere. Now, when there is a shortage of medicines, Bharadwaj is blaming hospital officials instead of acknowledging his own failure,” he added.

Bidhuri said, “The BJP has raised this issue multiple times, and the public has been vocal about the lack of medicines. There have been reports in the media, but the Health Minister claims he was kept in the dark. How could no one inform him, especially given the advisory committees in place at all hospitals?”

The BJP MP also took a jab at Bharadwaj’s penchant for holding press conferences rather than focusing on his duties as a minister. “It’s clear that Bharadwaj has no time for governance; his only job seems to be holding press conferences. That’s why he has become known as the ‘Press Conference Minister’. This is the extent of his engagement with the public,” said Bidhuri.

The BJP leader said Bharadwaj must accept his failure as Health Minister and step down. “The health model of the AAP government has been exposed for what it truly is. Bharadwaj cannot escape his responsibility any longer,” he said.