Govt to inspect existing mohalla clinics before opening new ones

NEW DELHI: Before new mohalla clinics are thrown open in the Capital, Delhi Health Minister Satyender Jain is mulling inspection of all existing 187 mohalla clinics, where the Delhi government has received complaints of shortage of medicines as well as paramedical facilities.

During a review meeting earlier this month, the Delhi government had finalised sites for 426 mohalla clinics. Jain also held review meetings with the Principal Secretary (Health), Director (Health), officials of Public Works Department and 11 district-level chief district health officers.

According to sources, the Health Minister conceded that inadequate medicines are being supplied through the centralised drugs controller, thus decentralisation of the drugs distribution system is needed.

Earlier, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had inquired about the status of the land to build new mohalla Clinics. He was informed that 177 locations were already handed over by the landowning departments and another 249 are ready to be handed over soon.

“The total number of lands cleared for mohalla clinics was 426,” said a senior Health Department official.

“The work on these new mohalla clinics would start soon. Once these mohalla clinics are ready, the number of mohalla Clinics in Delhi would go up to at least 613. However, this number will go up as joint inspections and review of nonfeasible sites are done,” a statement issued by the government had said.

The 613 mohalla clinics do not include the school clinics, which are in the pipeline. The Aam Aadmi Party-led government has identified around 300 sites for school clinics.

“Adding the number of 300 school clinics, the number of primary health centres in Delhi will be close to 1,000 centres” the statement said.

The Delhi government has set a target of setting up 1,000 mohalla clinics by March next year to provide “quality health services” to all Delhiites.