Delhi’s mohalla clinics, a flagship initiative of the Aam Aadmi Party government, witnessed a significant decline in patient visits in 2024. The Indian Express reported that according to the data obtained through an RTI application and official documents, the clinics recorded 1.39 crore appointments, a 28% drop compared to 2023’s unprecedented 1.94 crore visits.
Drug Shortages and Systemic Challenges
The health experts and officials attribute this major drop primarily to the shortage of essential medicines at mohalla clinics. In September 2024, an investigation by The Indian Express revealed widespread shortages of critical drugs in clinics and smaller government hospitals. The crisis stemmed from delayed vendor payments and changes in tender conditions, causing two-thirds of pharmaceutical companies to opt out of the tender process.
By late 2024, only Rs 5 crore had been spent on procuring medicines from the essential drug list, compared to Rs 164 crore in 2023-24 and Rs 247 crore in 2022-23. Larger hospitals managed to source drugs locally at higher costs, but mohalla clinics, with limited budgets, faced more severe challenges.
Trends in Gender and Usage Patterns
Since their inception in 2015, mohalla clinics have emerged as a vital healthcare resource, especially for women. Of the 5.44 crore total visits since 2019, 3.02 crore were by women, compared to 2.42 crore by men. In 2023, 1.08 crore women visited mohalla clinics compared to 85.85 lakh men. However, this trend saw a reversal in 2024, with visits dropping to 75.48 lakh for women and 64.17 lakh for men, reflecting decreases of 30.5% and 25.2%, respectively. Women primarily accessed services for conditions like diabetes, hypertension, hypothyroidism, pregnancy-related issues, and seasonal ailments such as the flu.
Expansion and Success Amid Challenges
Despite the challenges, mohalla clinics remain a critical pillar of Delhi’s healthcare infrastructure. The network now includes 546 clinics across 70 constituencies, with over 60% of doctors being women, fostering a sense of comfort among female patients. Post-pandemic, the Delhi government expanded the clinics by adding 100 more facilities in 2022, which helped attract more visitors. Services such as Covid testing, immunizations, and anemia prevention programs contributed to the increased footfall in earlier years.
Looking Ahead: Optimism Amid Adversity
Health officials remain hopeful that the dip in 2024 is a temporary setback. They underscore the clinics’ success in providing free diagnosis, treatment, and consultations, which act as a safety net for women who might lack the resources to access private healthcare. A senior doctor noted that for women affordability of these services is an important factor. Initiatives like free hormonal tests, post-pregnancy care, and family planning counseling have further strengthened the clinics’ role in addressing women’s health needs.
The health department aims to resolve supply chain issues and restore public trust, hoping to see footfall rise again in the coming years.