FM Arun Jaitley admitted to hospital again for post-surgery check up

Around a fortnight after being discharged from hospital after a surgery, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was admitted in a hospital again today after his medical condition deteriorated slightly, reported the Hindu BusinessLine.

Jaitley had undergone a planned diabetes management surgery at a private hospital in Delhi on 2 September and was discharged on 10 September. The Finance Minister returned to the hospital for a check-up and would leave soon, reported Reuters.

Jaitley checked in to the Max Institute private hospital on Sunday night for a routine post-operative examination, his doctor Pardeep Chowbey told Reuters, adding that he was expected to leave hospital either later on Monday or on Tuesday.

“His condition is absolutely normal. His kidneys are doing well and weight is 101 kg (222 pounds), down from 118 kg before the surgery,” Chowbey said.

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61-year-old Jaitley had undergone gastric bypass surgery to treat weight gain he has suffered because of a long-standing diabetic condition.The Finance Minister has been a diabetic for last few years.

Jaitley had missed the G20 Finance Ministers’ meeting at Cairns Australia due to the surgery and was scheduled to attend a event being held by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), which has been cancelled after he was admitted.

Although Jaitley has made no secret of his condition, his longer-than-expected stay following the minimally-invasive procedure has led commentators to question whether he was well enough to run two key ministries.

Government sources say his absence has delayed some cabinet decisions, such as a move to reduce the state’s majority share holdings in oil company ONGC, Coal India and power firm NHPC.