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Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh has announced the immediate closure of around 250 Mohalla clinics operating out of rented accommodations across the city. The decision is part of the government’s 100-day plan to improve Delhi’s healthcare infrastructure.
Background of Mohalla Clinics
Set up by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in October 2015, Mohalla Clinics are local health centers that provide free primary healthcare services, including consultation, medicines, and diagnostics. As of August 23, 2023, there were 533 such clinics operational in Delhi.
Reasons for closure
Minister Singh added that the majority of these clinics exist only on paper and are linked with fraudulent transactions, especially rent payments.
Mohalla clinics fraud ka adda hai (Delhi mohalla clinics only exist for fraud). Around 250 mohalla clinics exist only on paper and are on rented land, with rent expenses being misused. An order has been passed to shut such clinics with immediate effect.
Pankaj Kumar Singh, Delhi Health Minister
Renaming and expanding health services
The government will rename the remaining mohalla clinics as 'Ayushman Arogya Mandir' and expand the health facilities they provide. The renaming follows the heightened rollout of the Ayushman Bharat scheme in Delhi.
As part of the 100-day reform agenda, the Delhi government is speeding up the launch of the Ayushman Bharat scheme. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the central government will be signed in due course, and public enrollment will start after March 8.
The Delhi government will soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Centre to implement the scheme. Post March 8, you will see people filling out forms for enrolment in Ayushman Bharat,” Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh
Taking Dig at previous Government
On the merger of Delhi's previous health initiatives with Ayushman Bharat, the minister said that the programs of the previous AAP government were mainly in documentary form. The current administration has opted against adopting these previous policies, instead choosing to develop its own healthcare strategy with a focus on expanding the infrastructure of the current government.
Previous government schemes were only on paper. We will not adopt any of their policies. We will have our own policies and will enhance the infrastructure of the Delhi government.
Pankaj Kumar Singh, Delhi Health Minister
Delhi Arogya Kosh (DAK), set up in September 2011, was designed as a financial assistance programme that provides assistance of up to ₹5 lakh per eligible patient for medical treatment within government facilities. The initiative had four main components:
Free surgical procedures for eligible patients
Free advanced diagnostic services
Coverage of treatment for medico-legal cases involving road accidents
Free dialysis services
Further steps
The health minister also declared the introduction of 10 'dental vans' to offer dental care in rural Delhi. Additionally, administrative reforms are being implemented in government hospitals so that every medical superintendent is in charge of only one hospital, with rotation every three years.
Orders have been issued to start 10 dental care vans. These vans will run in rural areas of Delhi and will provide dental care for the people.” Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh
Maternal health focus.
Regarding maternal health, Singh underlined the importance of special maternity centres, recognising that 20% of births in Delhi continue to take place outside hospitals. The government is attempting to reduce it to zero by augmenting healthcare infrastructure and facilities.
In Delhi, still 20% of childbirths do not happen in hospitals. This data is maintained by the Delhi Municipal Corporation. So our aim is to bring the number of outside deliveries to zero.
Pankaj Kumar Singh, Delhi Health Minister
Opposition reaction
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) refused to answer questions regarding mohalla clinics and the fraud allegations associated with them. There is a divided public opinion regarding the closure of the clinics. While some locals are worried about the decreased access to free health services, others appreciate the government's move to address corruption and enhance the quality of services.
Dr. Munish Kumar Raizada, (MD, FAAP), President, Bharatiya Liberal Party, took to Twitter (X) to quote, "I welcome the decision of current Delhi government to shut down 250 Mohalla Clinics with immediate effect. Majority of Mohalla clinics are actually understaffed, lack essential medicines and examine patients for namesake (CAG report indicated that time spent by a doctor to examine a patient was on an average less than a minute).
The new Delhi government will do better to focus on existing govt dispensaries (also called Primary Urban Health Centers/PUHC) - the very first tier of 3 tier health care system. PUHCs are also suffering from under utilization, chronic absenteeism, adhocism and poor administration."
The closure of 250 neighborhood clinics is a monumental shift in the healthcare policy of Delhi. The government's effort to implement the Ayushman Bharat scheme and expand healthcare facilities is an indication of its attempt to consolidate public health infrastructure. But, if the changes are going to impact Delhiites for good, it will be seen in the months to come.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Muhammad Faisal/MSM)
