The AAP Government’s performance in the health sector in the first year of office has been a partial success as it launched one low-cost mohalla clinic, two polyclinics and also announced free essential drugs for patients in all State-run hospitals.
However, party’s poll promises to build 500 mohalla clinics, dedicated sports injury trauma centre at lok Nayak Hospital and starting full-fledged hospital operation at Rajiv Gandhi and Janakpuri super speciality hospitals within this fiscal year have not been fulfilled yet with these projects running behind schedule.
For this fiscal year, the Arvind Kerjiwal Government increased its health budget to Rs3,138 crore, a hike of 45 per cent from the previous year when it was Rs2164 crore.
After a year, The Pioneer did a reality check and found mixed responses from the people. While, low-cost mohalla clinic at Peeraghari’s relief camp and two polyclinics at Kanti Nagar and Kalyanvas have brought relief to the residents, but the recently-launched free essential drug scheme in all State Government hospitals brought more confusion and chaos for the people as they were left unaware about the procedure to avail them from the hospital pharmacy.
For Kaladevi, 30, who is a resident of Peeraghari’s relief camp, opening of Mohalla clinic was the best thing that ever happened in her locality. Now she doesn’t have to travel long distance at a Government hospital in Pashcim Vihar. “Mohalla clicinc outside my house is a good thing. Now, I can easily consult a doctor here,” said Kaladevi.
When asked about the 500 mohalla clinics, of which at least 500 should have been launched in the current fiscal year, Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain said, “We have floated the tender for1,000 mohalla clinics together and process is at the final stage. We are hoping to launch mohalla clinics within 5-6 months.”
On the other hand, Rabiya, 21, who went to lok Nayak Hospital for skin allergy treatment could not get free medicines from the hospital pharmacy. She said, “The mandatory doctor’s approval stamp on her prescription was not done by the doctor. And to get the doctor’s stamp approval, she moved from pillars to post.”
Speaking to The Pioneer, Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain said, “Initially, there was confusion among the patients and doctors at lok Nayak Hospital as a few doctors did not have the stamp. However, things have been brought under control and we have sorted the problem.”
For the essential drug scheme, the Government has directed all the Delhi Government hospitals to keep a buffer stock of essential and consumable drugs for at least three months in advance.
Besides, the Government expanded essential drug list to 790 medicines from 406 that were previously listed. They have directed all doctors to prescribe medicines only listed in the essential drug list.
In its manifesto, the party had promised to increase the number of beds from 10,000 to 30,000 beds in Government hospitals. “Till December 2017, we will release the beds in all the hospitals and for now, things are in the advanced stage,” said Jain.
“We are taking more time in planning, so that execution does not take much time. The project for dedicated sports injury trauma centre at lok Nayak Hospital project is not yet completed. There are many issues at the orthopedic block. We are reviewing all the issues. For mohalla clinics, tender has been floated for all 1000 of them. The projects are undergoing. Cancer OPDs have been started at Janak Puri Super specialty hospital. Within 5-7 months these hospitals will start running with all facilities,” said Jain.