Each unauthorised colony to get two mohalla clinics

NEW DELHI: Every unauthorised colony of Delhi is likely to get at least two Mohalla Clinics, the sources in the government asserted. In the completion of three years, the government already clarified that Mohalla Clinic and development of unauthorized colonies would be its prime target in the coming two years.

"The primary target is to provide at least two Mohalla Clinics nearby every unauthorized colony which means it should be in the walking distance," said a source. He explained that the government has found that the people from the local economic strata use the Mohalla clinics more than the others. "Our target of quality health for all gives priority to poor people and the people from unauthorised colonies are indeed needy," he said.

Mohalla Clinic is the dream project of the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. On the occasion of AAP's three-year celebration, the CM talked about the project. Stating that a new three-tier system is being planned in the health sector, with two-room local mohalla clinics, polyclinics and super-speciality hospitals forming the three layers, Kejriwal said 164 mohalla clinics have already been constructed and land had been identified for 786 and soon their construction would begin.

"Then in every 1.5 square km area, there would be a mohalla clinic. All medicines and tests would be available for free here," he said.

For slightly more serious ailments, he said, 26 polyclinics have been created and 94 more would be constructed soon. These clinics will have eight different specialists to cater to various ailments. For bigger health issues, more super-speciality hospitals would be set up.

In the last 70 years, he said, a capacity of 10,000 beds had been created in hospitals, but this year alone 3,000 beds are being added and next year another 2,500 will be added.

He said the intake in government hospital OPDs has also increased from three crores to four crores during the last three years, indicating an improvement in service quality. Moreover, nearly 90-95 percent people admitted that they were getting free medicines.

The Delhi government will also ensure polyclinics at the unauthorized colonies in the next phase. The source said that if the model of building at least two Mohalla Clinics gets success then the project of building polyclinics will come into play.