Work on 450 mohalla clinics to start this month

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government is likely to start work for setting up 450 mohalla clinics by this month. 250 of these clinics will be made inside government school premises.

After taking approval from Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Monday to set up new mohalla clinics, the Delhi government's Health and Family Welfare department, led by Satyendar Jain, began formulating plans to build the new clinics.

The department is targeting each area of the city for the new clinics.

A pet project of the Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhi government's target has been to build more than 1,000 clinics across the city.

According to Delhi government sources, the first target will be underdeveloped areas of the national Capital.

The Health department is likely to tie up with the Education department so that the clinics can be constructed inside Delhi government school premises without any hassles.

However, these clinics will have different entry points and working hours from that of the school.

The government also has taken a serious note of the LG's suggestion to ensure the quality of the clinics.

Sources asserted that the government will appoint senior MBBS doctors for each clinic for monitoring of the process.

Regular feedback from these doctors will be taken and every month Jain will conduct meetings with them.

The Health department will also keep a regular check on the quality and quantity of medicines provided in these clinics to maintain both quality and availability.

The department is directly coordinating with the Revenue department, civic bodies and Delhi Development Authority (DDA). Sources further stated that to make this project a success, help from civic bodies and the DDA is necessary.

The Revenue department has already cleared money for nearly 100 clinics and work is on for the remaining clinics.

The Delhi government will also establish some other clinics in porta-cabins and camps.

Those clinics which will come up within school premises will also be responsible for providing medical aid to the students.

The government has learnt that in many cases children get neglected. But this new venture will help them to maintain a healthy lifestlye.

The government will also set up an online system, based on Aadhaar or biometrics of patients, for better monitoring, as ordered by the LG.