Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday (March 23, 2026) accused the Bharatiya Janata Party government of neglecting the State’s healthcare infrastructure, leading to its collapse and weakening of schemes. Mr. Gehlot said there were delays in treatment and shortage of essential medicines in the hospitals.

“It is extremely alarming that the world-class health model established by the [previous] Congress government is being dismantled by the present government,” Mr. Gehlot said in a post on X. He said the key public health schemes had deteriorated, affecting the treatment for thousands of people.

Because of the pending payments under the Rajasthan Government Health Scheme (RGHS), private hospitals were once again preparing to suspend OPD and pharmacy services which would leave government employees and pensioners in a difficult situation, Mr. Gehlot said.

The veteran Congress leader pointed out that an acute shortage of blood at Jaipur’s major hospitals, such as Sawai Man Singh Hospital and Zanana Hospital, has created a health emergency which could prove life-threatening for patients.

While demanding that the State government lift restrictions on private blood banks, Mr. Gehlot referred to his recent visit to Chaksu near Jaipur, where he met a 108-year-old resident, Goluram Mali. “The villagers voiced dissatisfaction with the BJP government and expressed anger over the halted schemes in every sector, including medical and health,” he said.

Mr. Gehlot regretted that Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma starts making personal remarks about him at public events whenever he raised such public issues through social media. “The government should act on public grievances and take immediate corrective steps to improve the worsening situation on the ground,” he said.