Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, along with Health Minister Satyendar Jain, inaugurated 152 Mohalla Clinics (MC) at Pitampura on Sunday. With inauguration of these new clinics, the total number of mohalla clinics across the city has risen to 450.
"We targeted 1,000 Mohalla clinics in Delhi. Due to administrative reasons, work in this regard could resume just three-four months ago resume at an accelerated speed. Within the next three-four months, remaining Mohalla Clinics will be inaugurated", said the chief minister.
"When we came to power in 2015, we observed that there is no lack of big hospitals in Delhi. In Delhi, we have bigger hospitals like AIIMS, LNJP, GB Pant, GTB, and Safdarjung. But for the common people, it was difficult for accessing these hospitals for treatment of small illnesses like cold, cough, and fever and so on. Due to this, these hospitals used to experience a huge rush. So we realized that if we start smaller clinics in nearby locations, people can access the service of doctors and avail medicines and treatment without traveling a lot. Also, it will reduce the rush in the bigger hospitals in Delhi," he added.
The chief Minister said that the government has faced so many difficulties to expand this initiative in these years. "The files were pending for one to two years. Then the Supreme Court judgment came in between and it eased the process of opening new Mohalla Clinics. Now we made 450 Mohalla Clinics functional. In the coming three-four months, more clinics will be opened and I hope that the target of 1,000 Mohalla clinics will be achieved in Delhi", he said.
As per the officials, about two Crore OPD patients and conducted 18 Lakhs tests until November 2019. Earlier, the number of patients in Delhi government hospitals was three Crores annually. Since AAP led government made hospitals better in terms of infrastructure and cleanliness, and treatment and medicines free, the turnout of patients has now doubled to six Crores annually.
"Government hospitals are being closed down and the standard of government dispensaries is deteriorating in other states across the country. There you may see broken walls, the absence of doctors and staff and people losing trust. But in Delhi, across the city, Mohalla Clinics are being opened, and Air Conditioned hospitals are being built. In Delhi, people's trust in the Public healthcare system has been multiplied," said the cm.
The AAP government is also expecting that the development of this primary health care will find a place in Guinness World Records and Limca Book of Records. "If people are happy, I would be happy. It is Guinness World Records for me. I don't require anything more than that", said Kejriwal.
The mohalla clinics, porta cabin alike settlement are being set up in about 50 to 60 sqm built-up area, in a plot of about 100 to 150 sqm in a semi-permanent structure built with modern technology and the latest design economically made. The Clinics (Rented) are being set up in rented premises with a minimum of 40 sq. meter built-up area and at least one Toilet.
These clinics operated in shift basis from 8.00 am to 02.00 pm for normal Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinic (AAMC); Double Shift: 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. The people get treatment for basic health issues such as cough, fever and cold and they are provided with generic medicines as per Essential Drug List (EDL) of 125 medicine of AAMC through a pharmacy management protocol. It further provides about 212 diagnostic tests.