Paschim Vihar polyclinic caters to at least 400 patients daily

On Sunday, speaking in the first public interactive platform, ‘Talk to AK’, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal provided the example of the polyclinic at Paschim Vihar to highlight that how even the rich and the middle class have now started reposing their faith on the public healthcare system again with the government’s initiative of mohalla clinics and polyclinics.

Situated in block A-2, Paschim Vihar, Major Ashwini Kanva polyclinic has brought the rich and the poor to the same place. Many patients are satisfied with the services and are coming back again for consultation.

The polyclinic functions from 9 am to 4 pm from Monday to Friday and 9 am to 1 pm on Saturdays. Sunday is a holiday. While the departments of medicine, pediatrics and gynaecology run daily, departments of eye care, ENT, orthopedics, skin care run on special days. The polyclinic is affiliated to Bhagwan Mahavir hospital and all the specialist doctors are the hospital staff.

Even as the clinic receives about 350 to 400 patients daily, most of the patients appreciated the work ethic of the doctors.

Responding to Millennium Post on the services provided, 69-year-old A K Chadha who is getting treated for diabetes said: “I feel the rush needs to be controlled otherwise the doctors even though being very stressed are very courteous.”

A senior official said: “The concept of mohalla clinics and polyclinics have still not been streamlined that well, even though there are 2 mohalla clinics nearby, patients still want to avail the services of polyclinics as they have specialist doctors.”

Another challenge faced at the clinic is the non availability of X-ray, ultrasound and electrocardiogram (ECG) machines. Highlighting that the non-availability of these machines was a major hindrance, the paediatric doctor said: “There are some child patients who require X-rays. Since that option is unavailable presently, we refer them to our speciality hospitals.”

Interestingly, even though the clinic has the facility of 72 tests, dengue tests have been stopped for a month-and-a-half. Acknowledging that there are certain limitations that still needs to be addressed, a senior health official said: “For now we have put the infrastructure in place that caters to the need of the patients at large.”