Townhall Times Shutting down Mohalla Clinics Without Revamping Hospitals Will Worsen Health Infrastructure
The decision to shut down over 250 Mohalla clinics without addressing the need for improvements in hospital infrastructure is a step backward for Delhi’s health system. Critics argue that without a proper revamp of hospitals and health facilities, the closure of these clinics will only exacerbate the challenges facing public healthcare. Mohalla clinics, though not perfect, served as an accessible healthcare option for many residents. The absence of a well-thought-out replacement strategy for these clinics could lead to further strain on the already overburdened hospitals, worsening the city’s healthcare infrastructure.
Definitively, the CAG report presented by the BJP government in the Delhi Assembly exposes the harsh reality of Delhi’s healthcare infrastructure. It highlights a severe shortage of doctors, nurses, staff, beds, machines, and medicines—critical components necessary for a functioning healthcare system. This report brings to light the grim truth that Delhi’s healthcare system is struggling to meet the needs of its population, pointing to systemic issues that must be urgently addressed to ensure proper healthcare services for all.
Delhi’s Health Minister, Pankaj Singh, recently stated that more than 250 Mohalla clinics in the city will be shut down due to their inefficiency, which, he argues, is severely impacting the health infrastructure. According to Singh, these clinics existed only on paper, generating expenses without providing any real services. He emphasized that the closure of these clinics is crucial to tackle corruption and make better use of government land. “These Mohalla clinics are a fraud. They are just a burden, and we are taking action to shut them down,” Singh said.
In his statement, Singh also mentioned that the registration process for the Ayushman Bharat scheme would begin after March 8 in Delhi. The central government’s flagship scheme was approved by the Delhi Cabinet on February 20, following the swearing-in of Delhi’s new Chief Minister, Rekha Gupta, and her six ministers from the BJP.
Additionally, Singh revealed that the Delhi government would soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the central government to implement the Ayushman Bharat scheme. The scheme will provide insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh for approximately 6.54 lakh of the poorest families in Delhi. On top of this, the Delhi government will offer an additional Rs 5 lakh coverage to eligible beneficiaries.
However, some supporters of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have challenged Singh’s claims, calling his assertions about the fake Mohalla clinics misleading.
Flaws in the Ayushman Bharat Yojana
The Ayushman Bharat scheme has specific deprivation criteria for identifying rural families eligible for benefits. These criteria include:
- Families without an adult member aged between 16 and 59 years.
- Households headed by females with no adult male members in the age group of 16 to 59 years.
- Families living in a single room with kucha (unstable) walls and roofs.
- Households belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
- Families with disabled members who do not have support from able-bodied members.
- Landless households relying on manual, casual labor as their main source of income.
Additionally, the following groups automatically qualify for the scheme:
- Destitute families dependent on alms.
- Families of manual scavengers and bonded laborers.
- Families from primitive or particularly vulnerable tribal groups.
- Senior citizens aged 70 years and above, regardless of income.
Eligibility Criteria for Urban Families
Urban families must fall into one of the following occupational categories to be eligible:
- Street vendors, cobblers, hawkers, or other street-based service providers.
- Domestic workers, rag pickers, beggars.
- Construction workers, plumbers, masons, painters, welders, security guards, and other head-load workers.
- Coolies, sweepers, sanitation workers, gardeners.
- Transport workers, including conductors, drivers, cart pullers, etc.
- Artisans, home-based workers, handicraft workers, and tailors.
- Washermen, watchmen, electricians, mechanics, and repair workers.
- Peons, helpers, shop workers, delivery assistants, attendants, and waiters.
Just like in rural areas, all senior citizens aged 70 and above are automatically covered by the scheme, irrespective of their income.
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