Lab tests at all mohalla clinics may be hit, says health minister

NEWDELHI: Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain on Wednesday tweeted that the laboratory diagnostic services at its mohalla clinics and polyclinics may be affected as new tenders that the cabinet had approved could not be floated because of the IAS officer’s ‘strike’.

Jain’s tweet came on the third day of the sit-in by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his ministers at L-G Anil Baijal’s office.

“Cabinet approved lab tender for mohalla clinics on 12 Dec. But due to strike of IAS officers lab tender is not floated@ltgovDelhi. Due to this shortly all diagnostic lab test in Mohalla Clinics and Polyclinics may stop,” the minister tweeted.

The mohalla clinics and polyclinics offer 212 laboratory tests to the patients.

“Initially, a pilot project had been started with 100 mohalla clinics and some polyclinics. The tender that had been floated for the pilot project is still in effect and has been extended to the other clinics that started later,” said a government official.

The government runs 160 mohalla clinics and 25 polyclinics . Officials said that even if new tenders are not floated, the services of mohalla clinics are unlikely to be impacted.

The initial tender, which came into effect in April 2016, has been extended multiple times by the government to cover all mohalla clinics and polyclinics.

“The letter of extension says that the tender will be in place till the time another tender is finalised,” said an official.