BJP-led Delhi government launched its ambitious 100-day action plan, including shutting down 250 Mohalla Clinics.
NEW DELHI: The newly formed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Delhi government has swiftly launched its ambitious 100-day action plan, aimed at transforming the national capital. The government has begun implementing various development initiatives to enhance the quality of life for Delhi residents. These efforts include cleaning the Yamuna River, constructing new roads, and upgrading healthcare infrastructure, with a particular focus on modifying Mohalla Clinics. As part of this transformation, the BJP-led administration plans to establish 24 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs Primary Health Centres (PHCs). These initiatives are integral to the newly elected government’s 100-day roadmap. Additionally, the administration has decided to shut down 250 Mohalla Clinics across the city.
Delhi’s Health Minister, Pankaj Kumar Singh, in an interaction with The Sunday Guardian, clarified that AAP’s Mohalla Clinics and the Delhi government’s proposed Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are entirely separate entities.
“These are two different concepts, and what we intend to introduce will be a completely distinct healthcare model. Our Ayushman Mandirs will be constructed on government-owned land,” he stated.
Singh also urged the public to remain patient for 100 days, as a pilot project is set to be launched, which, according to him, will bring substantial improvements to Delhi’s healthcare system.
“You will witness a transformed Delhi in just 100 days,” he assured.
While addressing the media, Singh emphasised the need to shift focus towards strengthening maternal and child healthcare services.
“As far as I know, there is no comprehensive data available on this issue. However, we must establish Jachcha-Bachcha Jeevan Hospitals (maternity and paediatric hospitals), a sector that the previous government neglected. This would ensure better vaccination programmes for children and improved healthcare facilities for pregnant women. Several announcements have already been made in this regard,” he stated.
He further mentioned that with the BJP now at the helm in Delhi, the Ayushman Bharat scheme would soon be implemented in the capital. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has already been signed and forwarded to the central government for approval.
Furthermore, the Delhi government had earlier announced the immediate closure of 250 Mohalla Clinics, citing financial irregularities as the reason. This move is a key component of the administration’s broader 100-day plan to reform and restructure the healthcare system in the national capital.
Shortly after assuming office, Singh said that more than 250 of these clinics were non-operational and were operating from rented premises. Singh alleged that these clinics were fraudulent establishments that existed only on paper, with rental expenditures being misused.
“Mohalla Clinics are nothing but centres of fraud. Around 250 of these clinics exist only on paper and are located on rented premises, where rental expenses are being misappropriated. An order has been issued to shut down these clinics immediately,” Singh stated.
Notably, a purported report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had exposed critical deficiencies and infrastructure failures in the Kejriwal government’s healthcare model. The audit found that 70% of patients received consultations lasting less than a minute, while 18% of Mohalla Clinics were found to be non-operational. Additionally, during the audit, 41 out of 218 clinics were discovered to be shut down due to a severe shortage of doctors and administrative inefficiencies.
Meanwhile, AAP has strongly opposed the BJP-led Delhi government’s decision to shut down 250 Mohalla Clinics, calling it unjust and harmful to the city’s healthcare system. The party claims residents are against the move, as these clinics provided essential and accessible medical