The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government’s first low-cost Mohalla Clinic was opened at a relief camp in Peera Garhi area with much fanfare. But barely three months into its operation, the much touted project has already drawn flak from the residents. Patients are unhappy with its treatment and said it is beginning to function like any other Government hospital.
The Mohalla Clinic has failed to tackle patients during dengue outbreak in the area, according to residents.
On Saturday, The Pioneer visited the Mohalla Clinic at Peera Garhi Relief camp and found that it lacks in basic facilities to test dengue patient. The clinic does not have basic equipment and infrastructure to handle the increasing number of patients, said residents. The clinics are supposed to conduct 50 diagnostic tests among them but many tests are not available. Moreover, Patients are being advised to go for test nearby hospitals either Bhagwan Mahavir hospital or Sanjay Gandhi hospital.
Even doctors and para medical staffs are not treating patient properly. A senior doctor associated with first Mohalla Clinic is also down with dengue. Despite much publicity, local patients are not coming for treatment at the mohalla clinic, said residents.
A doctor who is going for leave due to dengue, said, “Currently, the clinic is referring dengue patients to the other hospitals as they don't have facility to conduct dengue test." A patient who came from the Peera Garhi relief camp for dengue test said the blood pressure equipment has not been working for many days. Several patients also alleged that some doctors are not treating the patients properly and straight away prescribe medicine without even talking to them and knowing their problems.
Raju, 25 — a labourer whovisited the Mohalla Clinic for dengue test — was referred to Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital. He said, "like me many people are going to other hospitals for dengue test."
Sources said the AAP Government has planned to spend huge amount on Mohalla Clinics across the city. "If the clinics have failed during the crunch time, there is no point of more Mohalla Clinics," said the sources.
Earlier, in July, the Mohalla Clinic was inaugurated by Delhi Chief Minister Arivind Kerjiwal.