Latest news with #MohallaClinic
The Hindu
10 hours ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Scores of Mohalla Clinic staffers stage protest outside Secretariat
Mohalla Clinic staffers on Monday staged a protest outside the Delhi Secretariat amid growing concerns over job security. The protesting doctors, nurses, and multi-tasking workers demanded that they be absorbed into the upcoming Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs). This decision came after the Comptroller and Auditor General report, tabled in the Assembly by the BJP, revealed shortcomings in the functioning of the clinics. According to officials, there are 553 Mohalla Clinics in the Capital, of which 70 are proposed to be upgraded into AAMs. The transformation would also lead to the shutting of over 250 clinics, said Health Minister Pankaj Singh. The protest, which began at 9 a.m. and continued till 12 noon, witnessed the staff seeking clarity on their future. Five doctors then entered the Secretariat to meet Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and the Health Minister. However, when they were not available, the doctors submitted the memorandum to the health department officials. 'Our two months' salaries have been stopped so that we can be pressured. We are being made to sign no-dues forms,' read the memorandum roughly translated from Hindi. The doctors, in a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister, highlighted that they were recruited through a government-led, extensive selection process. All the staff should be transferred to AAMs without any 'disruption in services', the memorandum stated, reiterating the CM's earlier assurance, made on May 16, that 'no one will be laid off'. Echoing CM's statement, Mr. Singh, last week, said that 'those who are eligible and work hard, will not be rendered jobless'. However, in a meeting on April 17, the Health Department announced that it would hire new staff, sparking concerns about job security among the Mohalla Clinic staff. While the department mentioned that existing doctors and paramedics may continue for up to a year or until new appointments are made, Monday's protestors said, 'no assurance was given'. Taking on the government's new eligibility criteria based on age limit, a 68-year-old practising doctor said, 'Under the earlier criteria, experienced doctors were given a chance to continue working after retirement. Under the new criteria that the government plans, there will be an age limit, rendering many of us jobless.' The doctor, who was among the five others who spoke to officials on Monday said, 'Officials acknowledged the memorandum but did not give us any assurance. Most clinics have been shut today, and we did not want to deprive patients, but we had no option.' A nurse, who has worked in a clinic for six years said, 'Firstly, there are not enough jobs. If we have been given a contract, based on our qualifications, we should be retained.' 'Moreover, the job is important to me because it is a day job and I have a one-year-old infant at home. If I have to move to a hospital, it will be very difficult for me to do night duty,' she said, adding that her monthly salary is approximately ₹25,000 per month.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Health
- Hans India
Health revolution: First Ayushman Arogya Mandir opens today
New Delhi: Delhi's first Ayushman Arogya Mandir is now ready to begin operations from the Tis Hazari Court complex. Previously functioning as a Mohalla Clinic, the facility has now been upgraded and redesigned to offer improved healthcare services under a new format. The official inauguration will take place on May 31, led by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. The launch is part of a special event at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, marking the completion of 100 days of the current Delhi government. As part of the occasion, 33 new healthcare facilities will also be introduced. The newly developed Ayushman Arogya Mandir is equipped with several features that set it apart. It offers in-house diagnostic capabilities with 14 types of medical tests now available directly at the clinic. In addition to this, outsourced testing options will enable 79 more diagnostic tests to be accessed through the centre. The facility is also integrated with the National Immunisation Programme, making routine vaccinations available on-site. In addition to this, yoga sessions will be held every Monday and Friday, and comprehensive family planning services will be offered, including pre- and post-pregnancy care. The centre will operate daily from 9.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m., and will be staffed by a medical officer, a nurse, a multipurpose health worker, and a sanitation worker. Previously, the Mohalla Clinic at the site offered only basic doctor consultations, and most tests had to be done externally. Key services like vaccination were also unavailable. Now, under the new Urban Ayushman Arogya Mandir model, all essential health services are being brought under one roof. Local people are quite enthusiastic about the upcoming Arogya Mandir. The BJP government in Delhi has an ambitious plan to expand health services through these centres. This initiative by the Delhi government aims not only to enhance the quality of healthcare but also to make health services more accessible to the general public.
New Indian Express
26-05-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Big Bang launch of Arogya Mandirs
In a dramatic shift within Delhi's public healthcare system, the city's Mohalla Clinics, a flagship initiative launched by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) during its tenure, are facing a closure. This move comes as the BJP-led administration rolls out a new healthcare initiative—Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs). While the government claims these new centres will offer upgraded infrastructure and more comprehensive services, the abrupt replacement of Mohalla Clinics has sparked concerns regarding the true intent behind the decision, the potential effectiveness of AAMs, and whether healthcare is being politicised. Rise and Stall of Mohalla Clinics When the AAP government took charge of Delhi in 2015, it introduced the Mohalla Clinic initiative as a bold step toward providing affordable, accessible healthcare to urban communities. The idea was to establish neighbourhood clinics that offered free consultations, medicines, diagnostics, and basic medical services. With resident doctors, lab assistants, and IT technicians managing patient information, the clinics quickly became a symbol of success in urban primary healthcare. These clinics quickly earned praise both nationally and internationally for their accessibility, affordability, and effectiveness. With free consultations, diagnostics, and medicines, they were seen as a model for urban primary healthcare. 'India's great export to the World'; this is what the Mohalla Clinics' website had to say about the scheme. The initiative was also praised by Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan who called the project 'a model for all Indian states embarking on the journey to universal health care.' What visibly changed after the introduction of Mohalla Clinics was the political discourse around public health. The initiative brought health services to the fore of political agendas, with number of states expressing interest in adopting the concept (or a variant), like 'Namma' clinics by the previous BJP regime in Karnataka. By 2022, over 553 Mohalla Clinics had been set up, many operating in rented premises. These clinics served lakhs of patients each month, particularly benefiting daily wage workers, women and the elderly.
The Hindu
17-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
No lay-offs planned, Delhi CM assures Mohalla Clinic employees amid revamp
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday (May 16, 2025) said employees at Mohalla Clinics in the city should not panic as they will not be laid off under the new healthcare system. 'There is no reason to worry. No one will lose their job. In fact, the existing [Mohalla Clinic] staff will be prioritised in the new healthcare framework introduced by the government,' she said. The CM's assurance came hours after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleged that the Delhi government was not only planning to 'shut down' Mohalla Clinics but also 'lay off' thousands of employees working in these primary healthcare clinics. Addressing a press conference, AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj said according to the minutes of a meeting dated May 7, AAP's flagship Mohalla Clinics will be replaced by Urban Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs (U-AAMs), and that there is 'no plan' to retain the staff at these centres. 'Facing termination' 'Thousands of doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and multi-task workers at Mohalla Clinics reached the Chief Minister's 'Janata Darbar' today. They went there because a decision has been made to terminate their jobs,' he said. As per the Health Department, 1,139 U-AAMs will be set up and the existing 553 Mohalla Clinics will be upgraded. (With inputs from The Hindu Bureau)
Hindustan Times
17-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Delhi CM promises jobs for Mohalla Clinic staff in Arogya Mandirs
Chief minister Rekha Gupta on Friday assured protesting Mohalla Clinic staff that they will be absorbed into the upcoming Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, even as the government begins phasing out clinics in areas where the new centres are being established. Her assurance came after scores of doctors, paramedics, and other clinic workers gathered outside her office on Friday, demanding clarity on their future and protesting delays in salary disbursal. The protest, held during the CM's Janata Darbar, was triggered by the government's recent decision to withdraw Mohalla Clinics that overlap with the Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. 'We will engage you on a priority basis in the new system that the government is creating,' Gupta told the staff, adding that preference will be given to existing personnel once the transition begins. On May 15, HT reported that the Delhi government intends to wind down existing Mohalla Clinics in areas where Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are coming up, since both facilities provide primary healthcare. According to minutes from a meeting on the operationalisation of Urban Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, Mohalla Clinic doctors and staff may be allowed to continue only for a year—or until new personnel are recruited to run the Arogya Mandirs. Following this, on Friday, dozens of clinic workers gathered around noon for the CM's Janata Darbar. 'We have worked at the Mohalla Clinics for the past six years. Now why are we being asked to leave our jobs? What is our fault?' said one paramedic at the gathering, summing up the anxiety shared by hundreds of frontline workers. Amid slogans and appeals, CM Gupta addressed the group: 'We will engage you on a priority basis in the new system. The government will absorb you in the Arogya Mandirs being set up across Delhi. There is no need to worry.' She added that once the delegation submitted the full list of affected staff, they would be prioritised in the government's upcoming recruitment drives. Mohalla Clinics were launched in 2015 under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government with the aim of decentralising access to basic healthcare. As of August 2023, 533 clinics were operational. However, at least seven have already been converted into Arogya Mandirs under the Centre's Ayushman Bharat scheme, signalling a broader transition across the Capital's health infrastructure. HT had earlier reported that 70 locations across the city have been finalised for the first phase of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, with a deadline of May 31 set for completion. These include multiple sites in each district—six in North Delhi, eight each in West and Central Delhi, and others spread across East, South, Southeast, Northeast, Shahdara, and New Delhi districts. Staff complain of salary delays While uncertainty over job security looms, another immediate concern for Mohalla Clinic workers is the non-payment of salaries. Several doctors and support staff told HT that they have not received payments for March and April. 'For two months, we've received nothing. There's been no explanation. Many of us depend entirely on this job—some are taking loans just to manage daily expenses,' said a doctor at the protest. Jitender, president of the Mohalla Clinic Staff Union, said, 'If we don't get paid by May 20, it'll be two full months without salary. The CM did not give us a specific answer on this, but we're hopeful the issue will be resolved soon.' Each Mohalla Clinic typically has a team comprising a doctor, pharmacist, and multitasking staff. Doctors earn ₹40 per registered patient, with a minimum daily count of 75. Pharmacists and assistants receive ₹12 and ₹10 per patient, respectively. Despite repeated queries, the Delhi government has not issued any official statement on the reason for the salary delay.
