Harsh Vardhan, born on December 13, 1954, in Delhi, India, is an Indian politician and a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He has served as the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Science and Technology, and Earth Sciences. A qualified doctor by profession, Vardhan has been influential in shaping India’s public health policies, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. He played a key role in coordinating the national response, managing healthcare infrastructure, and overseeing vaccine distribution efforts.

Vardhan began his political career in Delhi, where he gained recognition as the Health Minister in the Delhi government during the late 1990s. He was instrumental in eradicating polio from Delhi, a feat that earned him national acclaim. In 2014, he was elected as a Member of Parliament from the Chandni Chowk constituency and became an important figure in the central government, leading initiatives like Ayushman Bharat, which aimed to provide affordable healthcare to millions of Indians.

As the Union Health Minister, Vardhan was responsible for launching health campaigns, improving healthcare access, and tackling public health challenges, such as tuberculosis and non-communicable diseases. His tenure as Health Minister during the COVID-19 pandemic was marked by efforts to expand medical facilities, ensure vaccine availability, and promote public awareness about preventive measures.

In September 2020, BOOM fact-checked a viral video claiming that Harsh Vardhan was assaulted.

BOOM found out that the video was from October 2016 and actually showed an incident involving BJP leader Subrata Mishra, who was allegedly assaulted by All India Trinamool Congress workers. The claim linking it to Harsh Vardhan was false.