Mohalla Clinics: Govt Initiatives to Improve Mohalla Clinics in Delhi

Govt looking for ways to improve mohalla clinics

New Delhi: Many facilities are closed, allegedly due to staff shortages, while several are struggling with shortages of basic equipment, Minister of Health Saurabh Bharadwaj organised a meeting on Friday to discuss ways to improve mohalla clinics in the capital city.
Officials said the minister discussed the possibility of opening new clinics in densely populated areas or in areas where there was no adequate medical infrastructure. They said the minister asked the department to prepare a plan to strengthen the city’s public health system.
A flagship initiative of the AAP government, mohalla clinics were opened in 2015 as the first free healthcare facility in Delhi. While there are 546 mohalla clinics on paper, officials admitted that nearly 50 of them have been closed for the past few months due to lack of dedicated staff and equipment.
Officials said various MLAs have also written to the health minister complaining about non-functioning mohalla clinics in their constituencies. “The minister reviewed the functioning of mohalla clinics and directed the officials not only to ensure that all facilities are operational soon but also asked them to explore the possibility of opening new centres,” the official said.
The health department has initiated an exercise to recruit more doctors in mohalla clinics and will conduct interviews every week to engage them. Officials said the district medical officers have already started inviting applications from qualified doctors registered with the Delhi Medical Council and interviews will be conducted every Wednesday.
The minister also asked the PWD to provide details about the condition of various appliances like air conditioners and refrigerators installed in mohalla clinics. Officials said several reports were received that air conditioners and refrigerators were not working and walls of mohalla clinics were vandalised during the polling.
“The minister asked the PWD secretary to give details of equipment for mohalla clinics but did not get a response. He has again requested the department to give details urgently,” the official said.

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