lieutenant-Governor (l-G) Anil Baijal on Monday finally approved the setting up of Mohalla Clinics, a flagship scheme of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government, underling that transparency and quality in delivery of health care services be maintained. He asked the Government to migrate to an online system for proper monitoring.
“Have approved Mohalla Clinics with safeguards for transparency & quality healthcare… Advised migration within 6 months to an online biometrics/Aadhaar-based system for better monitoring (SIC),” the l-G tweeted to Chief Minister (CM) Arvind Kejriwal.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was quick to thank the l-G and assured him that the Government would implement all the “safeguards”. “Thank u so much sir. We are grateful to u. We will implement all the safeguards,” Kejriwal tweeted.
It may be noted that on August 31, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had announced that a meeting of the CM with the l-G was successful with respect to the mohalla clinic assuring the pending file would be cleared.
The mohalla clinic proposal is aimed at providing free primary healthcare to the city residents closer home.
While approving the mohalla clinic proposal, Baijal said that the administrative department would evolve and migrate, within six months, to an online system based on Aadhaar or biometrics of patients for better monitoring.
“The lieutenant-Governor has approved the proposal pertaining to Mohalla clinics with incorporation of certain safeguards to promote transparency and ensure delivery of quality health care services to the residents of Delhi,” the l-G office said in a statement.
The statement also stated that to ensure that there is no compromise on the quality of healthcare, the l-G emphasised that the doctors and staff engaged in these clinics should be properly qualified and they should be engaged through a transparent mechanism.
On August 30, 45 AAP MlAs had camped at the l-G office for several hours, insisting that Baijal clear the Mohalla clinics file — an act his office termed as “laying siege” to the office of a “constitutional functionary”.
The l-G observed that selection of premises for setting up of Mohalla clincis should be through a transparent and objective mechanism in such a way that the existing healthcare facilities are utilised in an optimum manner and the facilities are accessible to all without any duplication of scarce public resources.
“In case of private premises, it has been noted that the selection of premises and fixation of rent should be through a transparent open process as per prevalent PWD or CPWD norms,” the statement further stated.
To check complaints of data rigging, Baijal has advised that the administrative department must develop a sound mechanism to verify the number of footfalls claimed in the clinic.
Further, wherever required, statutory permissions and no objection certificates must be obtained from the local bodies and concerned department, Baijal said.
The l-G office said Baijal directed that the functioning of these clinics should be regularly monitored by the health department to prevent any unfortunate happening.
The l-G has also asked the department to ensure that all requisite instructions and codal formalities are followed with proper oversight while incurring expenditure for procurement, supply or outsourcing of services, medicines and goods.
The conditions laid down by the land owning agencies concerned for land use and construction of any temporary structure must be strictly followed.
“The Health Department shall not transfer, assign or otherwise part with the ownership or possession of the whole or any part of the said land in any manner,” the l-G office added.
So far, nearly 110 Mohalla clinics have been set up across the city under the Arvind Kejriwal Government’s flagship project. However, the proposal could not take off with its full strength as it was pending for the lieutenant-Governor’s approval. In January this year, former Secretary-General of United Nations Kofi Annan, had commended mohalla clinic project.