Delhi’s Mohalla Clinics, the flagship health initiative of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, are set to undergo a change — not infrastructure-wise though. Once the BJP government is sworn in, these clinics will be renamed as ‘Ayushman Arogya Mandirs’, BJP MLA-elect Manjinder Singh Sirsa confirmed on Friday.
Established in October 2015, Mohalla Clinics currently number 546 across Delhi’s 70 Assembly constituencies. Despite the name change, doctors and staff at these clinics will continue their services under the new system, Sirsa told The Indian Express.
Criticising the AAP-led initiative, Sirsa alleged that fraudulent activities, including ghost patients and fake test billing, were taking place in the clinics during AAP’s tenure. The BJP aims to revamp the healthcare model, ensuring free and efficient primary healthcare access to residents, Sirsa said. Once the government is formed in the capital, it would establish Ayushman Arogya Mandirs for those living in JJ (jhuggi-jhopri) clusters, he added.
The Delhi BJP’s first manifesto had promised the establishment of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs in underprivileged areas. As for the swearing-in ceremony, several news reports suggested that it would take place on February 19. BJP is currently finalising a venue for the event. The party is yet to declare the name of Delhi CM.