Latest news with #UrbanAarogyaMandirs
New Indian Express
17-05-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
AAP slams BJP government for dismissing contracts of Mohalla Clinics' staff
NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday accused the Delhi BJP government of dismissing thousands of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and multi-tasking workers (MTWs) from Mohalla Clinics. Responding to the allegations, Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Singh clarified that the contracts of healthcare staff at Mohalla Clinics would be extended for one year or until the Urban Aarogya Mandirs become operational—whichever comes earlier. 'The government will not do injustice to anyone, and all eligible staff will be retained,' Singh assured. He added, 'There will be a proper hiring process for doctors, and all eligible candidates can apply. The selection will be transparent as we aim to provide the best healthcare to our people. All good doctors and healthcare workers will stay with us. Everything will be done systematically.' Earlier, during a press conference, Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that the minutes of a May 7 meeting suggested plans to shut down most Mohalla Clinics in Delhi. He claimed that the reason cited was the upcoming construction of Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs, which would replace the clinics. Once an Aarogya Mandir is set up in an area, the corresponding Mohalla Clinic and its staff would be phased out, according to Bharadwaj. Bharadwaj accused the BJP of breaking pre-election promises. 'Before the elections, PM Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders assured the public that no welfare scheme started under the AAP government—whether free electricity, 20,000 litres of water, or Mohalla Clinics—would be discontinued. Yet, the new health minister's first order was to shut down 250 rented clinics,' he alleged. He also pointed out that many of the healthcare staff had been serving since 2017.
New Indian Express
26-04-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Arogya Mandirs to hire salaried doctors with fixed pay, replacing AAP's Mohalla Clinic model
NEW DELHI: The Centre's Urban Aarogya Mandirs, which is set to replace Mohalla Clinics in the capital, would comprise a staff of salaried medical professionals including doctors employed on a contractual basis. Unlike the previous AAP government's model where doctors were paid on a per-patient basis, Arogya Mandirs will hire healthcare professionals on a contractual basis with fixed pay scales similar to those under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), said officials privy to the development. Officials said the new health centres will not recruit from existing hospitals, nor will they follow the 'daily-wage model' previously in place. Instead, dedicated recruitment will be held for these positions. Work has already begun for establishing 80 Arogya Mandirs in the first phase. These centres aim to provide sustainable and high-quality diagnostic and treatment services. Existing mohalla clinics operating in rented accommodations or unsuitable locations, like in vicinity of garbage sites, will be shut down and relocated to permanent government facilities such as those managed by the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board. The upcoming Arogya Mandirs will also be developed solely on government lands, such as primary health centre plots. In a parallel initiative, the distribution of Ayushman Bharat health cards for senior citizens will commence soon, officials added. The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare's online portal for applications will go live on April 25. 'For those preferring offline assistance, ASHA workers will conduct door-to-door visits to help elderly citizens complete applications and deliver the cards directly to their homes. Distribution is scheduled to begin on April 28. If necessary, hospitals will also facilitate card delivery,' officials said. They emphasised that there will be no need for elderly citizens to travel or make arrangements to receive the benefits of the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
